Flexible Companies Grow 1.7x Faster

New data proves flexible companies grow 1.7x faster than those with rigid office mandates.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 2:31am

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A new study by Boston Consulting Group and Flex Index found that flexible companies are growing 1.7 times faster than mandate-driven peers. Flexibility allows companies to recruit from deeper talent pools, retain high performers, and improve productivity. The research shows that flexible work arrangements do not undermine performance, and in fact lead to better outcomes than rigid office policies.

Why it matters

As the labor market continues to favor employers that offer flexibility, the ability to attract and retain top talent is becoming a key competitive advantage. Flexible work models allow companies to tap into a wider talent pool, reduce costly employee turnover, and boost productivity - all of which translate to faster business growth.

The details

The study found that flexible companies outpaced mandate-driven rivals by 1.7x in growth, even after controlling for industry and size. Flexibility enables companies to recruit from deeper talent pools, backfill roles faster, and keep high performers longer - compounding into improved revenue trajectories. Flexible work also allows employees to align deep work with their energy peaks and personal constraints, boosting output. In contrast, studies have not shown measurable performance gains from rigid office mandates.

  • The latest research was conducted in 2026 by Boston Consulting Group and Flex Index.

The players

Boston Consulting Group

A leading global management consulting firm.

Flex Index

An organization that researches and promotes flexible work models.

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What they’re saying

“Treat flexibility like any other operating system. Set clear team agreements on when to co-locate for collaboration, define response-time norms, and instrument outcomes.”

— Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts

The takeaway

Flexibility is a proven competitive growth strategy. Companies that embrace flexible work models are able to attract top talent, boost productivity, and drive faster business growth compared to those with rigid office mandates.