The notion of IT workers spending long hours in dark towers has shifted markedly in the last decade.

The new brood of IT workers demand flexible working arrangements forcing enterprises and recruitment consultants to make such conditions a priority.

IT recruitment firm Hays has released a report advising organizations on how to manage, motivate and retain this generation of workers so they can effectively compete in a highly competitive job market.

Peter Noblet, the company's national IT recruitment manager, said organizations need to change their recruitment processes, especially if they want to appeal to Generation Y workers who expect flexible working arrangements.

Unfortunately, this is a luxury not usually associated with IT.