Flexible working is a key factor for IT professionals when considering whether to accept a new job, according to a study from online recruitment specialist The IT Job Board.

According to the new survey, a quarter of IT workers had turned down a job offer due to a lack of flexible working opportunities.

Flexible working should not only be a consideration for new IT starters, however, as the results revealed that 93 percent of the 200 respondents wanted to be offered the option. But despite the high interest levels among employees, almost half of IT workers felt a request to work flexibly would be turned down by their employer, while 10 percent were concerned it would mark them out as a troublemaker.

The study also highlighted that although 83 percent of respondents felt that the IT sector was suited to flexible working, almost three-quarters had never been offered the option.

Ray Duggins, managing director of The IT Job Board, said the threat of an impending IT skills crisis meant that attractive recruitment packages were essential. “Flexible working is clearly highly valued by current staff and potential candidates. Companies that take this issue seriously will reap the rewards,” he added.

Duggins also highlighted the benefits to the environment of introducing flexible working schemes, through reducing the travel requirements on staff.

The IT Job Board survey comes ahead of Work Wise Week, which runs from 16 to 22 May across the UK. The scheme, supported by the CBI and the TUC, is designed to encourage flexible working among firms.