8 Workplace Trends to Consider in the New Year
Post-pandemic, businesses witnessed a major shift in employees’ priorities.
Flexibility took the place of strict schedules, and having a sense of purpose became more important than just earning a paycheck. Knowing the emerging workplace trends to watch in the new year will help leaders craft strategies and position their businesses for success.
1. Hybrid: The New Norm
The hybrid work model has become a defining trend in the modern workplace. Gallup reports that 6 in 10 employees with remote-capable jobs prefer a hybrid arrangement. The shift is driven by changing employee priorities, with a study from Owl Labs showing that 84% of workers feel happier with hybrid setups due to better work-life balance. Additionally, companies adopting hybrid work see a 25% reduction in employee turnover.
However, hybrid work can bring challenges like helping teams collaborate, and ensuring employees feel part of the company culture. As hybrid becomes the new norm, organizations must adapt tools and processes to sustain productivity and engagement in this workplace setups.
2. Conscious Business Practices
Conscious business practices focus on the impact companies have on their employees, customers, and the environment. This includes sustainability efforts such as sourcing materials locally, using eco-friendly packaging, and reducing emissions. It also involves social responsibility, like investing according to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria and supporting community initiatives in health, education, and sustainability. An intranet simplifies sharing sustainability goals, progress, and updates in real time. HR and leadership teams can use the platform to communicate the company’s environmental and social responsibility efforts, encouraging employees to get involved.
3. EQ in Leadership
According to Zoe Talent Solutions, 58% of people succeed in their jobs with emotional intelligence (EI), while 75% of careers fail due to its absence. In a digitally evolving workplace, leaders must adapt to various work styles and address emotional needs, like feeling valued, included, respected, and supported, especially in diverse environments. Higher EQ allows leaders to understand individual needs and respond with empathy and flexibility, improving team dynamics. This skill is particularly crucial during transitions like mergers or acquisitions, where clear, empathetic communication helps address concerns and maintain alignment. To succeed in the digital era, leaders need tools that support consistent communication, transparency, and collaboration across remote teams.
4. Human- AI Collaboration
Blending human intuition with AI capabilities is a workplace trend that’s here to stay. PwC’s Global NextGen Survey 2024 reveals that 32% of CEOs have already incorporated AI in their business, and 31% have changed their technology strategy because of AI. Research shows employees use tools like ChatGPT to refine communication, draft personalized emails, and write meeting notes. Other applications include debugging complex code, generating product ideas, and summarizing lengthy reports. Companies also use AI to analyze datasets and uncover data patterns for actionable insights. For example, marketing teams can use AI to generate hyper-personalized campaigns, and legal departments can adopt AI-powered tools to expedite contract analysis.
5. Flexible Work Hours
Randstad’s recent WorkMonitor report shows that 81% of U.S. workers prioritize flexible working hours, and 75% of Gen Z employees valuing flexibility the most. As employee expectations evolve, companies need to equip their workforce with the right tools for efficiency, such as cloud-based platforms for collaboration, project management and time-tracking. Embracing these solutions ensures businesses remain resilient and responsive to ongoing workplace changes.
6. Smarter Workflows
By 2030, automation is expected to transform workplace efficiency, handling up to 30% of routine tasks across industries. Smart workflows will impact nearly every aspect of business operations. For instance, administrative processes like document approvals, employee onboarding, and sending reminders can be automated. These shifts will not only accelerate workflows but also reduce human error, boosting productivity. With repetitive tasks offloaded to automation, employees can focus on higher-value, strategic, and creative work.
7. Lower Engagement
The “Great Detachment” is the latest workplace buzzword gaining attention across industries. The term describes the growing trend of employees, especially younger generations, feeling disconnected from their jobs. Unlike the “Great Resignation,” where workers left in search of better opportunities, the Great Detachment sees employees staying in positions but feeling unfulfilled and disengaged. To combat this, companies are focusing on re-engagement strategies like connecting work to a larger purpose, offering growth paths, recognizing contributions, and prioritizing mental health to create a more meaningful and supportive workplace environment.
8. A New, Data-Driven HR Landscape
The future of HR is changing with the use of big data and AI. HR will use these tools to predict workforce trends, identify skill gaps, improve hiring, and help employees learn new skills for tech changes. It will also focus more on personal interactions to support employee well-being. HR can work closely with business leaders to manage the workforce, improve company results, and build a stronger company culture. Regular check-ins like employee surveys or polls would help gauge employee sentiments and show areas of improvement to better engage workers.
PeopleOne: A Modern Intranet for the Evolving Workplace
Knowing what workplace trends will continue in the new year can help you stay ahead of the curve. With PeopleOne, an intuitive and flexible intranet platform available on Microsoft Teams and as apps for Android and iOS, you can:
- Connect: Keep teams connected across any location and ensure a single source of truth for all corporate updates.
- Collaborate: Share documents, manage projects, and track tasks in one platform. Enhance teamwork and efficiency with integration.
- Celebrate: Recognize employee achievements and milestones and build a culture of appreciation across your organization.
- Centralize Knowledge: Store all company resources in one searchable hub. Ensure easy access to information for all employees.
Contact us today to learn how PeopleOne can help you build a more resilient and agile workplace for the future.
