Workplace Trends - What's Here to Stay
The last two and a half years have been a wild ride to say the least but they have also given people a lot of time to reflect on their professional and personal lives and how they can balance the two.?
During the pandemic the workplace had to change and many of these changes are here to stay. Once employers understand these "workplace trends" they can capitalize on them to shape the organization's culture and also to retain and attract new talent.
What changes are here to stay?
1. Working from home: for many employees, working full-time in the office is a thing of the past. Employees have enjoyed spending less time commuting, spending more time with family, have enjoyed structuring their day the way they want with few distractions that come with a busy office and many employees say that their job satisfaction has increased and are happier when they can work from home. And happy employees will stay longer in their jobs.
2. Managing employee wellbeing and mental health: with mental illness being experienced by 1 in 5 Australians in any given year, it is essential for organisations to invest in health and wellbeing programmes and initiatives. Ensuring employees, whether they work in the office or remotely, have access to mental health services when they need them as well as access to services that improve their health and well-being help employees feel more valued.
3. Developing employee skills: employees more than ever before expect their employer to invest in their growth and development. Employees want clear career pathways and opportunities to advance their skills further. Creating new promotional and learning opportunities in the workplace allows employees to stay challenged and engaged.
4. Diversity and inclusion in the workforce: the demand for a diverse workforce has been increasing as more people grow aware of the need for inclusivity and equality. Diversity offers fresh and different perspectives and creativity for different situations. Creative ideas and strategies are what set businesses apart. When an organization actively embraces and celebrates its employee's different individual characteristics and perspectives, their employees are likely to feel valued and accepted in the workplace. An inclusive workplace makes employees feel safe and comfortable to be themselves and increases their confidence to express ideas and build closer relationships with colleagues.?
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5. Demand for more employee recognition: more and more employees are resigning from their jobs because they do not feel valued. All employees want to be recognized for their contributions.?Recognition of hard work and achievements goes a long way to boost employee morale and motivation. Pay increases and bonuses are always welcome but recognition can come in the form of an extra annual leave day, team long lunch, gift vouchers, day spa treatment, birthday leave.
6. Open communication in the workplace: more and more, employees are looking for transparency and honesty in the workplace. Workplace transparency is clear and open communication between employees and the organization. When there is open communication, employees will feel safe enough to express opinions, ideas and share information. Collaboration and employee buy in will be critical for a company' s success.
Talent shortages are one of the top concerns for organisations at the moment. As employers adjust to a post pandemic world, it is important that businesses keep up with workplace trends or risk loosing the talent war and worse, endure continuous high turnover. A progressive workplace gives an employer a substantial edge over competitors and increases productivity and engagement.
Employees in 2022 and beyond are looking for companies whose culture fits within their values and where they can grow their careers in a workplace that moves away from traditional boundaries and practices.
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