Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we could see workplaces in Australia change, but pushed by the global health crisis, this change is accelerated. Just in the past year, we shifted from offices to home offices and in-person meetings to virtual ones. After we get over the pandemic, it’s expected for these changes to stick. So what are some of the current trends that will revolutionize work in the future?
Remote work
In today’s COVID world, remote working seems to be blooming across Australia and beyond. Many corporations and entrepreneurs noticed that even though offices are useful and collaborative, it’s just as easy to do business remotely, outside the four walls where they used to be contained traditionally.
According to research, employees love to work remotely. Over 80% of employees state that having a choice of remote work makes them feel happier at their job. Employers like it too, partly because the remote system is easy to implement; for example, Go-Global is the best virtual desktop alternative for companies to use for their employees. Remote work also benefits productivity, even though it might seem contrary. In many cases, workers are more productive when working remotely and enjoying all the perks this type of work offers.
Digital revolution
We all know that technology plays a big role in every modern workplace in Australia. However, its role will likely be more important in the future, as our workplaces continue to change. We are living in the era of digital transformation, and many businesses and professionals are switching their mindset towards a more digital one. However, there’s no need to panic. Digital transformation doesn’t mean that you’ll be replaced by a robot, but it depicts a process of digitization of traditional office spaces.
Today, digital transformation focuses on solving problems at the workplace quickly and efficiently. Thanks to technology like Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Drive, we can constantly push the limits of communication and collaboration to minimize friction that happens among workers. Collaborative technology at the office or home office will continue to shape the way we work, encouraging people to connect internally and adapt to a more telecommuting way of doing business.
Flexible workforce
What was one a norm, hiring full-time workers is not the best idea anymore. Full-time employees require benefits, salaries, insurance and other extra expenses many businesses can’t afford right now. The costs of hiring someone can go into thousands of dollars due to administration, paperwork and turnover expenses. All this can be dodged by hiring contingent workers. Having a flexible workforce on your side will make you more adaptable to a rapidly changing market. If your business doesn’t have any experience with the contingent workforce, don’t worry. Companies like helpful CXC Global Australia will provide you with many flexible talent solutions from their pool. They can also handle the process of hiring and deal with all the details so you can get access to the best talents to handle your one-time tasks, repetitive tasks and training tasks without any fuss.
Better social engagement
According to research, modern employees are socially engaged and happier to work for organizations that share their own values. In 2020, Gartner research showed that 74% of employees expect their companies to be more involved in social, political and environmental happenings. In order to attract and retain employees, CEOs will have to become more active in the community.
Millennials at the workplace
Today, Millennials are making up about 50% of the Australian workforce. In the future, this number will get even bigger, so Millennials are really taking over. The changes they are bringing are new approaches, new ideas, strong values and innovative styles of working. This generation of talented workers has all the necessary technological fluency to make a real change. But they are also willing to stay unemployed until they find a company that satisfies their needs. Simply put, corporations and start-ups alike need to create an environment where people will WANT to be a part of.
Mental health support
The COVID-19 pandemic put a bigger emphasis on mental health than ever. Workers and employees are more aware of the impact of business problems and workplace conflicts on mental health. In 2020, several companies included wellness benefits to their employee aid packages, and we can see this trend spreading to 2021 as well. Companies are providing psychological benefits and creating opportunities for people to talk about their fears, worries and issues. Many business leaders and HR managers all over the world are doing their best to spread awareness about mental health.
After the pandemic is over, the only constant that will stay in our lives is change. Workplaces are changing rapidly, and workers and employers need to keep up and be ready for the unexpected. The future of work might seem a little scary, but oh so exciting!
