The way we work has been in a state of constant flux for the past two years. When the pandemic began, employees and employers had to shift the culture to accommodate mandatory restrictions motivating them to rethink their working styles entirely. Then came the Great Resignation era, like a tidal wave, showing the world that employees were not scared to take action in the search for holistic growth opportunities.

To this end, 2022 witnessed organizations and employees working together to revisit return-to-office policies, bridge the talent gaps and adjust hiring strategies to retain existing talent pools. With the new year looming over the horizon, everyone is getting ready to face economic uncertainties. The impending economic downturns are coupled with significant IT recession and continuously changing employee expectations, catalysing the quiet quitting culture.

Well, the good news is there is light at the end of the tunnel. Here are some of the key trends which will take prominence as we enter into a new workplace era:

Prioritising Retention Over Recruitment

For an organization to run efficiently, business leaders should inculcate a culture of learning and development that complement employees’ personal and professional ambitions. Given the fierce competition for talent, such a culture will go a long way in retention. It creates an inclusive environment, wherein employees find the flexibility to improve and advance in their careers. Employees thrive in workplaces where they can grow beyond their roles. Such an environment adds value to the business by helping them find talented employees, reducing turnover, and improving retention.

Geographically Distributed Workplaces will Keep Hybrid/Remote Working Alive

As more and more workplaces welcome Gen-Z employees, businesses need to evolve with their ideas of diversity and flexibility. The concept of remote working has evolved into working from anywhere in the world. More and more businesses are moving away from geographical limitations to attain their common goals of collaborative innovation. This unique model of working allows for greater flexibility, encourages a higher level of engagement, and opens businesses to a global pipeline of talent.

Work Life Balance will Rein Supreme

Employers will align more with their employee’s values, than forcing them to obey theirs. If the Great Resignation has taught us anything, it is that employees are no longer afraid to demand what they want and are not keen on working with a company that doesn’t share and support those needs. Prioritizing work over anything else has been an ongoing trend for many years. However, thanks to the pandemic this is slowly coming to a halt. Businesses across industries are cognizant and are transforming organizational practices to pave the way for new and better employee experiences without sacrificing productivity. Encouraging good work-life balance is essential for business longevity and is the best way to reduce employee burnout.

Quiet Quitting will Prevail

Quiet quitting has been one of the most talked about concepts this year. It has been touted as a workplace revolution, initiating a change in how corporates retain and hire talent. The new generation workforce is not one to stay quiet when their needs are not being met and it has been widely accepted as the new normal. Business leaders must rise to the occasion to show how much they care for their employees if they wish to retain them. This is an opportunity for employers to rebuild their work ethics and culture to remain competitive in the market. Employers must enable their teams to take advantage of internal mobility programs, development resources, wellness offerings, and more to build interpersonal connections and prevent quiet quitting. Meaningful conversations must become a part of the overall business strategy to understand the underlying employee challenges and their solutions.

A business is only as successful as its employees. They are the drivers of company-wide success and growth. There will always be a new disruption, which will require a new solution, a new way of working. For business leaders to face the challenges coming their way, they need to champion their employees the way they want them to champion the organization.