5 Modern Workplace Trends You Should Embrace

The work environment constantly undergoes various changes. The development of new technologies, the transformation of the global economy, and progressing automation and globalization bring new challenges that businesses worldwide have to face and overcome. As such, modern workplaces test and implement numerous strategies to increase the productivity and satisfaction of their employees.

Below, you’ll find a list of 5 trends that you should consider adopting in 2020 and the following years. Without any further ado, let’s get right into it.

Remote Work

The coronavirus pandemic in 2020 caught the entire world off guard. With governments introducing new safety measures and putting entire societies in lockdown, office-centric businesses were forced to implement a remote working mode to remain operational.

The shift to the remote work model increases the demand for IT consulting and optimizing services. Networks for professional work are complex to set up and maintain, especially if they have to accommodate a large number of employees. If you feel like your business would benefit from the help of IT specialists, make sure you visit this website.

Flexible Working Hours

As the era of office-centric workplaces nears to an end, so does the time of 9-to-5 schedules. Employees find it difficult to manage their personal lives and take care of family-related issues when needed, especially under these well-established rules. What’s more, experts believe that this mode of work is counterproductive and has adverse effects on employee morale.

Adding to that, employees express the need for greater work-life balance. Millennials, who belong to the majority of the modern workforce, value their time off-work more than potential benefits and, in many cases, even the salary. That’s why a shift from rigid timeframes to a more flexible schedule allows them to pursue their personal goals while focusing more on their tasks at work.

Employee Experience and Non-Traditional Credentials

Usually, the first thing the recruiters check before hiring a new employee is their college degree. Now, this approach starts to change, as it’s the work experience that’s in higher demand.

This trend affects both younger and older generations. In order to get their degree, millennials get into student debt, which they’ll have to pay even until 2050. This reality is extremely discouraging to members of Generation Z, who often tend to focus on their careers instead of going to college. On the other hand, businesses with skill gaps hire 65 and older employees due to their knowledge and experience. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fastest-growing demographic at the workplace are people aged 55 and older.

Frequent Performance Review

Communication and feedback are among the most crucial factors in any workplace. They help track employees’ progress and assess which areas need improvement. It’s also a great way to encourage employees to reevaluate their performance at work and, if required, introduce necessary changes.

Annual reviews proved to be ineffective, and one-time shocking revelations had little to no impact on the practical adaptation of new solutions. The younger workforce prefers to have quick feedback to both collective and individual work. As such, managers at many companies organize monthly, or even weekly sessions with their employees, discussing their performance, and evaluating their goals. During these sessions, they have the opportunity to resolve any issues and address how the whole team operates. This trend turned up to be extremely effective, and an increasing number of companies have started to introduce frequent performance reviews to their work plan.

Emphasis on Mental Health and Wellness

Despite being considered taboo, mental health becomes an increasingly important issue that’s being discussed more openly. It’s a growing concern for both older and younger generations, as many employees lost their jobs due to various mental health problems. People cite personal reasons, harassment, as well as pressure at the workplace as the most common causes of their struggles.

Some companies have already started to create health centers and hire therapists as an active attempt to help their employees handle potential emotional crises. This trend is considered to be extremely beneficial, and other businesses are predicted to follow suit.

Final Thoughts

The year 2020 brought many unexpected changes. In order to become even more effective, businesses will have to adopt various strategies to accommodate a new generation of employees and different employment structures. With the increasing demand for more flexible hours and a remote work environment, companies have to undergo changes that touch upon both technological and organizational aspects. It’s safe to say that even though some of these trends are relatively new, they’re here to stay for good.