More than 6 out of 10 people would take less money when starting a new job if it meant they were given flexibility to work wherever they wanted, according to the first Cisco Connected World Report 2010.

Custom Market Research questioned 1,303 people and 1,309 IT decision makers across 13 countries of the world about their attitudes to technology and how it changes their lives.

Amongst those asked globally, 66% indicated flexibility was worth accepting a 10% salary drop when taking a new job. The result was remarkably consistent across Europe with only German responders indicating money was more important to them.

Q: if you had to choose between a job opportunity with a slightly higher salary (+10%) that restricts remote access and another job with a slightly lower salary (-10%), that allows flexible access would you?

So it seems people are increasingly expecting the ability to be flexible in their working. Increasingly businesses are recognising that flexible working and the provision of mobile devices are seen as a clear differentiator when recruiting and retaining staff; and also in maximising the efficiency of their employees and teams.

A further question revealed how importantly employees viewed mobility and flexibility. When asked if they considered remote access a right or a privilege, more than a third considered it a right.

Q: Is the ability to work remotely as right or a privilege in today’s world?

Clearly remote working and working from home is something employees are expecting of their employers and this trend appears to be growing. But businesses need to ensure they have the policies; security and functionality in place to enable this newly mobile workforce to operate as effectively away from the office as in it.

Dominic Cook