Perspectives of Flexible forms of work in the Photonics industry

Is remote work a trend in the photonics industry? Given the talent shortage in our sector, could project-based contracts be a viable option, or are we still an industry that relies on long-term employment?

Is remote work a trend in the photonics industry? Given the talent shortage in our sector, could project-based contracts be a viable option, or are we still an industry that relies on long-term employment? We discussed these topics during the past EPIC HR Workgroup with recruiting agencies and HR managers of EPIC member companies.

We started the session by sharing the results of a survey completed by the session registrants. The concept of flexible work has different meanings for participants—some associate it with location (remote work), while others link it to scheduling (flexible hours). However, the majority reported having a flexible work model in place at their company, with part-time roles and hybrid work being the most common.
Download the full survey results here.

The first speaker was Arelie Pattyn, representing the World Employment Confederation. She presented the research The Work We Want, which offered insights from industrial companies around the world. Some key highlights:

• 80% of respondents agreed that talent planning has never been more challenging than it is today.
• 83% agreed that employees value flexibility just as much as compensation.
• 82% of HR managers agreed that the idea of a person following a single career path throughout their lifetime is no longer realistic.

In this context, agility is essential, with agency workers seen as one way to achieve the necessary flexibility.

Check the slide below for more insights.

The next speaker was Rene Gruner from the recruiting agency HAYS, who shared use cases of agency workers in the photonics sector. The goal is to support company growth with modular and scalable workflows. This is where agency workers come in—joining the company for specific projects as needed.

The third speaker was Seamus Cullen from Insight Technology Search. His presentation focused on the concept of flexibility. He noted that early-career talent—particularly in engineering, product, and commercial roles—benefits from in-office time for development and collaboration. Meanwhile, mid-level executives now expect and often receive greater remote flexibility. At the top level, however, onsite presence remains essential, Cullen remarked.

Therefore, it’s crucial to define an Employee Value Proposition that includes work-life balance, company culture, and the overall work environment.

Dominik Rabus from RABUS.TECH closed the workshop by presenting his business model. As an independent professional with extensive experience in the integrated photonics sector, he offers his services to multiple companies. He can simultaneously serve as the COO of one startup and the VP of Business Development for another.