What is new for your workplace in 2016? The workplace is changing fast. So, be on the lookout for these six trends that may affect the way you work in the coming year.
Increasing focus on health and wellness in the workplace
For years company bosses have known that happy, healthy employees are more productive than those who are not. They take fewer sick days and generally are more engaged in their work. In 2016, companies will put even more focus on the best perks and incentives to drive health-conscious behaviours and improve the mental and physical wellbeing of employees.
Wearable technology is going to play a bigger role in companies’ wellness programmes. There will be an increase in engagement in wellness programmes and competitions. Fitness trackers and activity-based competitions will add to more participation and engagement.
Need to create a mobile culture
The face of the traditional office has slowly changed over the last few years. In 2016 this trend will continue. Companies are embracing new ways of working to foster more efficient collaboration, knowledge-sharing, flexibility, speed, innovation and productivity. With the rise of collaborative technologies, globalisation and an employee’s desire for work-life balance, the office is becoming more decentralised and the office space is shrinking.
Firstly, work is becoming more about what you do rather than where you do it, as more people are working remotely from their homes or satellite locations. People can now work from everywhere – at the office, at home and on the road. More employees are working remotely and companies can save millions by shrinking the size of their offices.
Secondly, companies will also move away from open offices and create different office spaces that give employees options. Some employees work better in cubicles and others work better in a lounge or cafeteria while a few still prefer the open plan idea.
More professionals prefer consultancy work instead of full-time jobs as it gives them more flexibility. That means that there will be more of a mix of full-time workers, part-time workers and consultants working for a company.
Employees are also increasingly expecting flexible work hours. As people look for better ways to juggle work obligations and family or personal commitments, flex time has risen to the top of the list of what many workers value most. Flexibility helps employees to plan their work schedules around picking children up from school, attending classes, managing daytime medical appointments, or avoiding rush hour.
Wearable technology
It is almost a given that technology will play in huge role in the workplace this year. We can expect that mobile apps will become part of our workplace. Whether it’s an online job application, performance management tool, attendance management, or expense reimbursement, apps will make it easier to engage with colleagues at any time.
Boomerang employees
A boomerang employee is one that leaves a company only to return later; a decision that is based on compensation, opportunity and/or family affairs. It is a worldwide phenomenon that more and more companies are rehiring “boomerang employees”. The benefits of rehiring former employees are that they are familiar with the company culture, don’t require as much training and have a new perspective.
Generation differences
We will see more Baby Boomers retire this year. On the other hand the first group of Generation Z (born between 1994 and 2010) will be entering the workforce.
Members of Generation Z are even more entrepreneurial, loyal, flexible and realistic in their approach to careers. They choose opportunities for growth and work-life balance over salary.
However, the Millennials (or Generation Y) are now in charge. They are the largest part of the work force and thus hold an influential role in defining how the workplace will operate in 2016.
Work-life balanced revisited
Some of the best things about workplace technology come from outside the workplace: faster, more reliable broadband, powerful smartphones and tablets, better video and text chatting software. They all enable us to be more flexible in our working patterns. But they are also the reason for some workplace predicaments such as late night work emails or conference calls on public holidays. It does mean that we all have to consider what we should allow or not in respect of things such as checking emails in bed and treating the train home as an extension of our office hours.
Sources
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2015/11/01/10-workplace-trends-for-2016/
http://www.inc.com/chris-heivly/9-workplace-trends-great-leaders-will-adopt-in-2016.html
http://www.fastcompany.com/3052836/the-future-of-work/6-ways-work-will-change-in-2016