Trends in Workplace – 2022
Globalization and advances in technology have led to new trends in workplaces. The most significant one is the increase of remote working. Pandemic shutdowns in 2020 sped up this growth. Workplace wellness, flexibility and learning are the other main factors influencing workplace trends.
Businesses that were initially hesitant to allow their employees to work from home now have proof that virtual offices are practical and sustainable and even much more productive. According to the 2021 State of Remote Work Report from Owl Labs, 90% of the 2,050 full-time remote workers surveyed said that they were much more productive working remotely, compared to working in the office. Another 74% said after the pandemic, working remotely is better for their mental health, and 84% reported that remote working make them happier, with many even willing to take a pay cut.
While most employees worked from home during the pandemic, some have refused to leave offices. This led to a hybrid working model. The hybrid working model has gained significant popularity, and experts expect many companies to move into hybrid offices. An analysis from McKinsey predicts that in the coming years, three to four times more professionals will work remotely, at least for part of the week. But the need for businesses to have a common space to host a venue for employee engagement, collaboration, and learning is still crucial after pandemic. Offices will remain to be a business’ central hub and it is not going to change anytime soon. This fact also strengthens the hybrid working model.
When it comes to workplace design; employers, HR professionals and workplace design professionals should pay attention to the following issues when designing their workplaces and working schemes:
- Remote and hybrid working,
- Creating a virtual team,
- Flexible working hours,
- Employee health and safety,
- Multifunctional workspaces,
- Continuous learning.
In 2022, the third year of the pandemic, the rise of job burnout reached an all-time high. The American Psychological Association’s Work and Wellbeing survey found that 79% of 1,501 employees experienced work-related stress in the month prior to the survey. Three out of five workers said that work-related stress caused a lack of interest, motivation, and energy at work. In total, 36% had cognitive fatigue, 32% had emotional fatigue, and 44% had physical fatigue. Employers should take into account these work-related stress when designing their workplaces and working schemes. They also should work on how to make workplaces safer as many employees reconnected with their colleagues after pandemic and rebuild their social capital.
Business leaders around the world should pay attention to flexibility. While most organizations continue to operate in a hybrid model, industry leaders must invest in automation, resources and people. Professionals who want to work from home have more options as more companies offer remote work options. Employees expect companies to aid in providing flexibility, social cohesion, and effective communication given this new working arrangement. Inflexible employers are likely to see higher turnover rates from rivals that adopt to new trends. Smart organizations will spend energy designing guidelines for telecommuting rather than wasting effort trying to force staff to revert to more traditional work structures.