Monster Meter Poll Reveals 44 Percent of U.S. Workers Surveyed Will Have Flexible Working Hours This Summer

Forty-Four Percent of Workers Report Flexible Summer Hours are a Perk Where They Work;
Twelve Percent will Have Flexible Summer Schedules Due to Cost-Cutting Measures

MAYNARD, Mass. – June 17, 2009 – With the first day of summer fast approaching, nearly half of U.S. poll respondents on Monster.com will work flexible summer hours.  Forty-four percent of the Monster Meter respondents report flexible summer hours are a perk where they work, according to a nationwide poll conducted by Monster.com®. Monster.com is a leading global online career and recruitment resource and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW).

“During these challenging times, many companies are offering flexible working hours as an alternative to lay-offs, and as a way to help empower and energize employees,” said Norma Gaffin, director of career content, Monster.com. “Flexible work schedules are regarded as a very effective retention tool and an inexpensive perk during a down economy,” Gaffin added. 

Twelve percent of poll participants indicate their flexible summer schedules are a direct result of cost-cutting initiatives within their companies. The remaining 44 percent of Monster Meter poll respondents say flexible working hours during summer months at their companies are not an option. 

Will you have flexible working hours this summer?

  • Yes, it’s a perk where I work: 44%
  • Yes, as part of a cost-cutting measure: 12%
  • No, it’s not an option at my company: 44%

Flexible work schedules can also be a win-win for the employer.  A recent Monster Workforce Management article – Flexible Work Arrangements Build Brand Loyalty - offers insight into how employers around the country are meeting their project deadlines and the need for quality by engaging employees in a wide range of nontraditional employment configurations.

Employees can also check out the Monster Career Advice site for other articles on Negotiating Flexible Schedules and tips on how to achieve a positive work/life balance.

The Monster Meter is an ongoing series of online polls that gauge users’ opinions on a variety of topics relating to careers, the economy and the workplace.  The results of this Monster Meter are based on 3,431 votes cast by Monster.com U.S. users on the Monster.com homepage.  Only one vote per user is counted toward the final tabulation. This poll is not scientific and reflects the opinions of only those Internet users who have chosen to participate.

About Monster Worldwide
Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: MWW), parent company of Monster, the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to inspire people to improve their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 index. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at http://corporate.monster.com.

Press Contacts

Kathy O’Reilly
Monster
978-823-2002 or 978-394-9334
kathy.oreilly@monster.com