Modern Workplace Trends You Must Know

The modern workplace has changed more in the last few years than any other time in history. For most people, work looks very different when compared to two or three years ago. In this guide, we’re diving into the workplace trends you need to know about in 2022.

Why is it important to know the future of work trends?

Quite simply, you will probably want to know about the upcoming trends so you can stay on top of them. Modern companies need to give employees a modern workplace or risk losing top talent. In progressive industries, this becomes even more essential. You don’t have to run a Silicon Valley company to provide a great, exciting place to work.

Predictions of modern workplace trends

Let’s dive into the predictions for modern workplace trends and how things might change in 2022 and beyond. 

Hybrid or remote working

A lot of people got used to working from home in recent years. The pandemic has led to workplaces being more flexible out of necessity, but many employees now expect this as the norm.

Remote working doesn’t have to mean you are a less effective team, but to keep everyone well-connected, we think more companies are going to move towards a hybrid approach so people spend some time in the workplace, and some time at home.

More personal and professional development

This makes a lot of sense. In fact, it is bizarre that a lot of workplaces didn’t really embrace this beforehand. It seems that the world of work is waking up to the benefits of development, not just professionally, but personally. 

For example, in years gone by people might not have understood the benefits in giving your employees the chance to take courses together. Now, we can see that team-building and other opportunities for development are crucial. The benefits are many. You can build confidence, grow employee soft skills and incentivize your employees to continue to improve.

Workplace look trend predictions

The workplace look is likely to become a little more casual. This is the modern way, and trends can even be accounted for in this way.

Showing tattoos at work is one of the ways we might see a change. People who have visited the best tattoo shops in the US in order to get a beautiful sleeve or other ink want to show this off to other people, even at work. 

Tattoos have become much more mainstream in general. We are used to seeing these when we socialize, and the excuses some bosses have to get rid of them in the workplace probably won’t stack up. Tattoos are not dirty, or unprofessional, or associated with gang culture (in the majority of instances).

Innate liking for flexible work schedules

More and more companies are offering flexible schedules for workers. Workplaces that don’t could be seen as outdated.

Flexible working schedules don’t have to make your team less effective, and employees appreciate the opportunity to run errands or even just take breaks when they want, and work on their own terms.

Many companies scared to take this approach before the pandemic has seen that their business can function with remote and flexible work.

Need for centralized communication 

This way of working has also led to a need for more centralized communication, with a lot of companies moving to project management systems for assigning tasks, communicating with one another, and tracking the progress of your team.

Without a simple centralized method of communicating, it is easy for employees to feel lost, or potentially to even become less productive.

The emphasis on work-life balance

More and more employers are starting to understand that their employees value their personal time. Work-life balance is essential, and if companies want to keep their employees (and keep them happy) they should take steps to improve this balance for their staff.

There are some companies that are even changing to ‘trust’ systems where they don’t necessarily track employees’ time. As long as tasks are being completed then the employee can manage their own time.

Investing in employee wellbeing

We’ve mentioned this a little in terms of personal development. Mental health check-ins and even aids to keep staff happy at work will become much more common.

The modern approach to substances including CBD could change, too. A lot of people take CBD to help with stress and anxiety, and workplaces might reduce any regulations about these kinds of substances. 

Many companies realize that unhappy employees are usually unproductive employees. By prioritizing their mental health and wellbeing, businesses can even reap the benefits in terms of productivity. What’s more, keeping your employees happy is the right thing to do, and leads to a far better working environment.

Author Bio: This article is written by our marketing team at HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee engagement, and intranet software. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, employee productivity, and to save you valuable time!