With the new year upon us, it is time to take a look back at 2022. Evaluating the good and the bad is crucial, as it allows us to draw conclusions that will guide decisions for the new year. This way, your entire organisation, and its employees can benefit from an even better year in 2023.
To give you a head start, we have compiled some of the most interesting trends in business and HR practices for the coming year!
The trend towards remote working continues.
As a result of the pandemic, more and more workers are opting for hybrid or fully remote working. This type of work can be very interesting, as it could give workers greater flexibility in their lives and promote a better work-life balance.
On the other hand, hybrid workers sometimes feel they are missing out on great opportunities for advancement simply because they are not in the office and do not interact with their colleagues in the same way.
Today's employees are better connected than ever. It's now up to businesses to take advantage of this by leveraging the connectivity of their employees and continuing to bridge the gaps between on-site, remote, and hybrid workers. This way, all employees can feel involved and engaged in the company's projects. It will benefit the whole company and its projects for years to come.
The role of the manager is changing.
A recent study by the American Chamber of Commerce determined that the role of the middle-manager is changing. Managing the needs of employees and reporting back to a superior is a role that is changing significantly in 2023.
According to the study, the manager is gradually becoming a coach . . . a mentor . . . an empathetic leader! It suggests that companies that provide more continuous training to their managers will develop resource persons for all their employees.
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm?
Used to, accustomed to, familiar with ... and even hardened ... to this Monday to Friday 9 to 5 schedule? Why question a formula that has always existed?
Because it is a trend!
The possibility of working from anywhere and at any time leads to flexible hours. Moreover, in many sectors of activity leads to a possible transformation.
But that is not all! Because this same flexibility shows that employees who manage their working time better reduce their stress by 7% (CNN, 2018) and increase their productivity by up to 13% (Vantage Circle, 2021).
For these reasons, many companies and countries, such as New Zealand and Belgium, are opting for a 4-day week in 2023.
Professional development and continuous training.
We know that the working environment is constantly changing. We also know that these transformations necessarily imply the development of new skills. Professional development and continuous training are other trends that will be confirmed in the years to come.
Regularly updated skills give a competitive advantage and reduce staff turnover. Employees are thus allowed to evolve in their work, and contribute more significantly to the company's progress.
On the road to automation!
More and more technology is making our days easier by greatly reducing the manual work done by our employees. It is a shame that many companies have not yet made the leaped into automating tasks.
In recent years, technological advances have made it possible to speed up data entry, data analysis, and people processes. By automating simple day-to-day tasks, HR professionals will have more time to focus on the core aspects of the business: employee well-being, performance, and engagement.