The Future of Work: What to Expect
What will the future of work look like?
Some might say it’s already here.
There has been significant discourse on the future of work and the trends that will impact the workplace by both employers and HR leaders. The way our society worked and interacted experienced considerable change due to the spread of COVID-19. Now organizations are considering what decisions and changes need to be made today to prepare for the future of work.
The pandemic led to a massive shift in the workplace, primarily how we work and where we work. From adapting to remote work environments to the Great Resignation, these changes to the workplace have created various challenges for HR departments and professionals.
Yesterday, Life Works Well had an insightful discussion about the essence of HR and what to expect with the future of work at our April mentor circle. For this session, we hosted a guest panel with an impressive group of professionals including Janine Travers the Director of Talent Development at CIBC, Kadine Cooper who is a Career Transition Coach, Hilda Gan, the President of People Bright Consulting and Sarah Hussain, a dynamic HR professional and the founder of Bridge HR. Our guests shared some of the trends they thought would impact the future of work
Some of the trends leaders should expect to see in the future of work include the increase in remote work, the use of artificial intelligence & automation in the workplace, and investing in employee well-being.
Hybrid Work Environments
In the last two years we have witnessed thousands of workers moving from offices to working in remote environments due to the pandemic. Statistics Canada reported that in January 2021, 32% of Canadian employees aged 15 - 69 worked from home.
Remote work has provided multiple benefits for both employees and organizations, from increased flexibility to greater productivity. Today, more employees prefer to work from home or in a hybrid work environment rather than return to an office full-time. Accenture’s Future of Work Study found 83% of workers would rather a hybrid model. Janine Travers reminded us that employees today are looking for organizations that offer work-life balance. It isn’t something job seekers consider nice to have but is a priority when searching for new roles.
One of the trends Sarah Hussain also mentioned in our mentor circle was we will not only see more employees working from home, but we will also see the establishment of global mobility programs and work from anywhere programs. Thanks to the development of virtual tools, employees are not only able to work from home but they could equally work across borders.
These work from anywhere policies have already been created by some companies like Lightspeed Commerce who allow their employees to spend two months working remotely from another country. This change from an office environment to a remote workforce has become an obstacle for HR departments and senior leaders when it comes to managing and supporting dispersed teams and keeping their employees engaged.
Technology & AI
The increased use of digital technologies is how many businesses and schools were able to shift to these remote working and learning environments. Platforms such as Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, enabled employees and students to continue working and learning from their homes. In our mentor circle, Hilda Gan anticipates that AI and technology in the future of work is inevitable, both will be freeing as we move forward and some people are embracing this change.
Experts predict artificial intelligence and automation will eliminate certain jobs, create new ones, and change the way we work as technology will be used to enhance our skills. These developments will improve the productivity of employees, the efficiency of certain jobs, create new opportunities for employees, and require learning new skills. Automation will also impact the hiring process and has the potential to address unconscious bias.
Another point Sarah Hussain emphasized in our mentor circle is that our biggest opportunity with technology in the workplace is leveraging how we can enhance our communications and stay connected in remote environments. In the future of work, AI will help enhance our digital communications with the use of smart machines, software, apps, and avatars. This will allow employees to continue to interact and communicate in virtual environments.
Employee Well-being
Employee-wellbeing and benefits have become a priority for several workers in the past two years. Research by Paychex and Future Workplace revealed that among 603 full-time workers, 62% of employees identified well-being benefits as a key factor in deciding whether to apply for a new job and 67% of Gen Z agreed well-being benefits will be a priority when assessing potential job offers.
The pandemic has only heightened the stress and burnout employees have experienced in the workplace. Many employees were offered flexibility by employers that they will continue to expect post-pandemic. With the rise of hybrid working models, employee wellness programs will also have to adapt to how and where employees are working. Providing more flexibility in benefits and how employees decide to take care themselves will make organizations stand out.
Employee well-being doesn’t only define physical well-being but also extends to financial, emotional, and mental well-being. Our mentor circle guest, Kadine Cooper, explained that employees are looking for cultures and environments that are more accepting of their well-being and having the flexibility to take those no judgment mental health days.
The future of work will lead to several changes to the workplace including where we work and how. For employers and HR professionals demonstrating their investment in their employees and the employee experience will be crucial in attracting and retaining talent. The flexibility of remote work, the increased use of AI, and the importance of employee well-being will become the forefront of many workplaces in the years to come.
