TOP 5 BUSINESS PREDICTIONS FOR 2022

Thanks to COVID-19, the future of work is unpredictable, and the way we work has changed. As a result, it is difficult to forecast what 2022 will have in store for businesses. However, some interesting things on the horizon could shift how we work in South Africa.

Some six predictions we will see in 2022 are:

1.???A drive to a more holistic workplace

2.???The future of work is hybrid

3.???Be adaptable and flexible

4.???Local is best

5.???Authentic connections

One thing COVID-19 taught many was that life is precious and that a work-life balance is now more critical than ever before. Many people want a work environment that understands their need for a balance between work and home life, where going home at lunch to collect the children and then working from home is not frowned upon. Not only that, but many people are looking for jobs that provide them with benefits above medical, pension and finance, where they have the option to work from home if the need were to arise.

This links into the need for a hybrid workplace and a flexible workplace. Many employees are demanding flexi-time but the same pay from their employers, as they can get personal things such as shopping or doctor's visits done while also producing the work required. Working from home has taught many employees self-discipline. With new ways of adapting to working away from the traditional office environment, work can be completed at home comfortably and remotely through online applications, such as Microsoft Teams. Work has never been more convenient, and it is this convenience that employees are craving.

With import restrictions playing a role in globalization and global connection, many SMEs have found themselves the preferred business supplier for larger multinationals. Not only has this strengthened SMEs, but it has also opened the door for a more entrepreneurial mindset in business, with a lot more employees running sideline businesses.

These newly acquired business skills are valuable assets in the business world, and a more open-minded and collaborative approach needs to be taken when working with these employees. They now have more to offer but are less afraid of moving companies if they feel undervalued.

This ties in with the need for more authentic connections in the workplace, particularly those between senior management and junior staff. Open door policies, fairness, equality (and equity), and open lines of communication are now more important than ever before.

Overall, this is just a scratch on the surface of what is to come, the dynamic and rapid shift in work hierarchies and relationships. The idea that work was once a static 9am - 5pm job at a building where you had no name is crumbling. 2022 will show that a new holistic, sustainable and fluid work environment is on the horizon. For many businesses, a change in business practice will need to occur to keep employees loyal and happy. After all, COVID-19 has taught us to value ourselves, allowed us to demand that we be valued and finally given us the work freedom to express ourselves and decide our own work schedule.?