The year 2020 brings many changes to the world of work. The search for security, concern for health, the home office for office workers and new challenges in the areas of motivation and recognition have suddenly become commonplace. 2021 will see the changes and trends that started in the previous year become even more pronounced and we need to respond to these changing circumstances.
It is essential that our organisation now anticipates that similar unexpected events can happen at any time, and that we are open to change. This is the key to staying on track.
For the time being, we see that uncertainty still prevails, but it is clear that many people will not return to business as usual. This will also further shape the way in which we attract and, above all, retain workers, as it has now become of paramount importance to find the points to support and motivate them.
We've rounded up the key workplace trends to watch out for this year:
1. Health protection
Last year, health and safety was already an essential part of the job, even if we only think about precautions: keeping your distance, gloves, hand sanitising, home office, and we expect this to be true for the future. More and more workers rely on the support they receive from their workplace on this issue, so it should not be ignored, especially as healthy workers also perform better.
In addition to precautionary measures, health protection can include screening, support for sport and support in the area of mental health, which has also become more important in the current situation, either in the form of a coach or a psychologist. Providing a stress-free environment is also an important task for employers, especially if the signs of stress are often felt in our employees: fatigue, sleeplessness, aches and pains, anxiety, weight gain.
2. Hybrid working, flexibility
As a result of last year's working patterns, the home office is expected to become more prevalent than before, the new normal, so hybrid working is expected to be the norm for (mainly) office workers.
A Reward Gateway research shows that 48% of HR professionals think that teleworking will be the new standard. A Hogan Assessments shows that while a large proportion of employees would like to continue to work at least part-time from home, most (32,19%) would support the possibility of a home office 2 days a week. A FlexJobs respondents feel they are more productive at home because there are fewer distractions (74%) and less stress from the daily commute (71%).
This opens up space on both sides, as both firms and workers can draw from a wider range of sources. Recent times have taught us that it is possible to work from home, and this gives an opportunity to anyone who may have been put off by the move from applying for a job or hiring a worker.
Employers can also support their employees in this area: setting up a home office, providing advice on how to do this, and buying the right equipment.
3. Employee expreience, empathy
Ensuring the employee experience will also be a focus this year, which also means taking into account how our employees feel when designing our processes and culture. As we spend a large part of the day at work, it's paramount that it's a positive experience, increasing engagement and motivation, and this is something to look out for from day one.
The aim is to make staff feel valued, that their work is important and cared for, which can be a challenge in a home office. There is also a need to find a way to recognise and reward
- can be easily applied to any employee, anywhere,
- is diverse and flexible enough for everyone to find their motivation,
- and preferably remain public.
Recognition is one of the most important factors in employee engagement, and in 2021, in a challenging and uncertain world, it is even more important.
And empathy does not just extend to employees: last year also showed that it is important to look out for others, whether it is an organisation in difficulty or the environment. It can also be a matter close to the heart of employees, so activities to protect the environment and donate can also be a prominent part of workplace values.
How can Beeward help?
The use of HR software is gaining ground, and there is no need to be afraid of using it. The beeward.buzz is a tool for everyday motivation and recognition that can be perfectly integrated into everyday life, but it's important to know that a tool alone doesn't make the work environment better, you need people to bring it to life.
Applying the trends formulated in response to the challenges of 2021 is child's play with beeward.buzz, as the points awarded can be redeemed for rewards as described above. This could be a sports subsidy, a breakfast, a chat with a psychologist, a home office subsidy with a gift voucher, or even a fundraising grant.
If you want to know more about the recognition tool, kATTENTINTS HERE, and read more about it, or register and try it for free!
