5 Workplace Trends in 2022

Call it a distraction, call it an awakening, but the last couple of years in the workplace have been turned upside down. Some emerging trends were welcomed with open arms, and some were pushed away vehemently by others.

So, what workplace trends can you expect to stay in place throughout 2022 and beyond?

Prioritizing Health and Wellness

Based on what got us into this new professional environment, it makes sense that companies have turned their focus to the well-being and overall health of their employees. This includes physical and mental. The aftermath of the COVID 19 pandemic stripped us of the protection we thought we had regarding physical and mental health and wellness. People are now focused on optimizing their health as a whole and choosing offerings that cater to their wants and needs.

Expanding Remote Work

As no surprise to anyone, when we were forced to work from home for an extended period of time, the employee and employer both needed to figure out how the adjustment would go. Remote and hybrid work gives way to flexible working hours, fewer commutes, and less overhead for an organization. As a bright light during a challenging time in the workforce, companies saw employee productivity increase when their remote work offerings expanded. And more than that, employees became comfortable with the option of working from home. Innovative companies quickly underwent a mindset shift and created a work process that included telecommuting guidelines instead of fighting the trend.

Thinking Digital First

Innovative companies took the lead in the digi-sphere by creating digital handbooks. It included how-to video guides to help someone from onboarding through high leadership positions. This lends to a workforce that ebbs and flows with disruptions. They come in the form of turnover while also helping to develop employees who want to stay and grow within a company. Think of how easy it would be to cross-train others to fill gaps across departments if you had video tutorials. Then, take that a step forward and think of the costs associated with turnover that organizations can avoid.

Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Trust is a critical piece of the employee-employer relationship. If an employee doesn’t trust the person or organization they are working for, they naturally will become less engaged in their work. This disengagement leads to less success for the company. Therefore, it’s in the employer’s best interest to stand firm in their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives because it increases employee productivity and performance. This is because every employee deserves a safe and supportive workplace. As a result, organizations are focusing on fairer hiring practices and appointing leadership to diversity officer roles.

Focusing on Learning

It used to be that a Master’s degree was the new Bachelor’s degree, but the educational landscape has changed in the last few years. More professionals seek professional development opportunities within their workplace instead of strictly degree-based. In order to keep quality employees, employers have had to give them the platform to learn on the job. This educational opportunity is what keeps more employees in the workforce.

What workplace trends have you experienced over the last year, and which do you think are here to stay? Share your thoughts by commenting below.