Employers can no longer rely solely on remuneration, work hours, or leave policies as perks when hiring talent, as today’s workforce in India expects much more. A 2025 Workmonitor survey reveals that over half of respondents would leave jobs lacking flexibility, with 60% rejecting roles without flexible hours and 56% demanding location flexibility. In comparison, globally, fewer than a third of employees consider flexibility a dealbreaker, highlighting a stark contrast with India.

Additionally, three in five said they would quit if they lacked a good rapport with their manager, according to the Randstad India report.

Flexible working hours are highly sought after across all generations in India, driven by unique socio-economic and workplace dynamics.

“Flexibility is no longer a benefit; it’s a baseline expectation across all age groups. Flexibility must be embedded into work design,” says Viswanath PS, MD & CEO, Randstad India.

Gen Z values flexibility for a digital-first job market and cultural expectations, Millennials for balancing careers with family, and Gen X for leadership and family commitments.

The survey suggests this is likely due to India’s existing infrastructure, which lacks established hybrid work models, along with its strong family-oriented culture.

“Traditional motivators like salary are taking a backseat as factors such as workplace flexibility, a sense of belonging, and opportunities for learning and development (L&D) gain prominence. Pay has dropped to the fourth spot in importance, reflecting a shift toward a more holistic view of employment,” the report said.

It highlights that beyond toxicity and lack of flexibility, workplaces failing to offer development opportunities risk higher employee attrition. Over 67% of employees said they would quit workplaces that fail to offer any learning and development opportunities, with more women than men almost 70% of the former prioritising this.

“Equally, the demand for continuous learning highlights that talent isn’t just looking for jobs—they are looking for careers that evolve with them,” adds Viswanath.

Among the most sought opportunities, employees expect AI training and IT literacy to be the most significant ones, with coding or programming dropping to being sought-after by just 6% of the respondents now.

The report also revealed that feeling valued doesn’t necessarily translate to workplace inclusivity. Despite 94% of employees feeling valued, 75% still hide aspects of their true selves, highlighting gaps in inclusivity.