Since the pandemic has influenced major work trends, HR managers have to implement new strategies in the organization. The pandemic had an impact on our health, finances, and labor force.
The pandemic has left workers with a feeling of fatigue and anxiety. This led to an entire movement called the ‘’Great Resignation,’’ which seems to be reshaping the future of work. This article will dive deep into the key post-pandemic trends in the future of work.
More Remote Work
According to Hired’s 2021 State of the Salary report, only one percent of employees would like to return to office work. Thirty-three percent of them are happy staying fully remote, and 52 surveys prefer a hybrid approach with optional office time. This indicates that the remote working trend is here to stay.
However, what do employers think about it? Do they agree with employees’ desires? The same report also estimates that 66 percent of companies will implement a hybrid model, 25 percent will continue fully remote, and only eight percent will return to offices full-time.
The Great Resignation
The great resignation movement seems to be influencing the work environment. It consists of millions of U.S. workers quitting their jobs during 2021. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 4 million people left their jobs in August of 2021. This represents an increase of three percent in quits, the highest number ever reported.
The reasons people are quitting their jobs are due to pandemic fatigue, low salaries, uncertainty, and the hunt for better opportunities. This has moved companies’ floors and redirected their HR strategies to lower their turnover rate.
This workforce muscle is strengthening with the great resignation with the hope of getting better salaries, more flexibility, and benefits for workers.
Intensified Sanitary Measures
The pandemic has intensified the sanitary measures at work. Not every role can be done remotely or in a hybrid model. People still need to go out there and work in person, but companies will be careful because we’re still fighting a deadly virus.
Therefore, companies have to meet federal and governmental laws that protect employees from getting and spreading the virus. This includes, but it’s not limited to, performing weekly testing, providing the vaccine for workers, offering paid time off when someone is sick or taking care of a sick relative, and more.
Resilience and Efficiency
Most companies’ goals were to develop efficient business models in the past. While they generated good outcomes, increased revenue, and reduced costs, these strategies were weak and prone to failure when the unexpected happened. That’s why companies are now prioritizing resilience in their business models.
More Data Collection
With a large population of employees working remotely, the use of big data warehouses increased. Data collection will intensify, which means that the use of cloud computing will be almost imperative for all types of businesses regarding the industry.
Reskilling and Retraining Will Be a Top Priority
There is no doubt that job training will be a top priority in the future of work. With so many employees leaving their jobs, employers have to improve their HR efforts. Outsourcing new talent is incredibly expensive for companies, so retraining is a better alternative to reduce costs and time.
Furthermore, the need for reskilling is influenced by technological advancements. To keep up with the pace of technological development, companies must keep up with the latest trends in their industry.
More Gig Workers
It is also no surprise to see that gig working will become more relevant in the future of work. According to a Gartner analysis, 30 percent of companies will be replacing full-time employees with gig workers to reduce costs and risks.
It will be a period of independent work. HR managers will later decide which employees are worth keeping. Employees like software engineers, writers, digital marketers qualify for these independent contracts models.
Final Thoughts
The workplace is changing. Employers are starting to change the way they operate. A post-pandemic workplace seems to be full of remote workers, employers will prioritize resilience and many sanitary measures to protect employees. It will also be imperative to implement reskilling so employees can keep up with the latest trends in the industry.
