Top Workplace Trends for 2022

Some people would rather forget the last two years; however, there is no denying that they will forever shape the future of the way we work.

As we approach 2022, it’s a good idea to stay updated with workplace trends and predictions so you can give your team what they want.

Hybrid Working

During the pandemic, most people were forced to work from home. Some love it, and some hate it; however, the workplace trend of hybrid working is here to stay.

Hybrid working is a mixture of home and office work, and usually, the choice is made by the individual. Most companies are introducing ‘core’ days, which require people to be in the office on set days, making it easier to schedule face-to-face meetings; however, letting people control where they work is having a very positive impact.

Loom’s The State of Modern Work reports that 91.6% of software company employees said they were satisfied/very satisfied with hybrid working.

Despite expectations to the contrary, WFH did not negatively impact productivity or working relationships. Far from it, in fact: A full 47.8% of those surveyed reported that working from home had improved their working relationships compared to working in the office, and 50.5% said they encountered fewer distractions when working from home than when working in the office. Most workers said that hybrid working is the most productive.

Companies that don't offer some flexibility in working from home are likely to see a decline in applicants for positions and find it increasingly more difficult to get talent onboard compared to companies that offer hybrid or flexible working options.

Providing options that could increase employee satisfaction encourages increased engagement, retention, and productivity, a win-win.

More thoughtful office perks

Office nap pods, beer taps, and a ping-pong table—yes, they’re all perks people would have taken a job for 10 years ago; however, we have evolved. These so-called perks may add an element of something different to a workplace, but do they improve your work experience?

Office nap pods, beer taps, and ping-pong tables are all office-based, which your team will not benefit from if they work from home or on a hybrid model. Now that more companies than ever are adopting a flexible working model, benefits should also be hybrid.

Perkbox surveyed more than 1,500 UK employees to ask which perks they wanted in the future, and as you can see, there’s not a single beer tap or ping-pong table in sight.

If one of your aims is to have happier employees in 2022, you should shift your mindset about providing employee benefits.

People want their lives to be about more than work, and their benefits to positively impact not only their working day but also their whole day, weekend, and time off.

People also want greater recognition for their efforts, and rightly so. Whether financial recognition and being paid correctly or a simple ‘thank you’ for doing a great job, your employees deserve to be adequately rewarded and recognised.

The same study revealed that 74% of employees think their pay should increase if the employer saves on office costs, while more than half would like a contribution to household bills. So, when a company does cut down on office space or change the way it works, it’s crucial that it communicates this carefully and considerately to the rest of the team. 

An increased focus on mental health and employee wellbeing

With business focus being maintaining or improving productivity and business functions throughout the pandemic, wellbeing has suffered, with 94% of workers reported being stressed. Some 78% believe the coronavirus pandemic has severely affected their mental health; 40% are making more flawed decisions, and 90% conclude that newfound work-related stress affects their home lives. The culmination of this is causing unprecedented levels of depression (up 53%), anxiety (up 55%), and even PTSD (up 32%), which is further exacerbated by a growing backlash against employee surveillance.

The good news is the latter study showed that two-thirds of employees believe employers support mental health, so it is a trend that is going in the right direction. The study also showed that 74% of organisations offer access to counselling services and employee assistance programs. However, the room for improvement appears in those financial wellbeing services, as “just 13% believe that their organisation has allocated an adequate budget to improve employee financial wellbeing.”

In 2022, more companies will focus on proactive rather than reactive forms of employee wellbeing. This could include designating a mental health officer or making mental health services more readily available to employees. It's important for every company to have these services readily available if your team needs them.

Financial well-being will be considered in 2022, but it will likely take much longer to become a workplace trend.

Career changes and resignations

The pandemic has encouraged people to rethink what makes them happy, including their careers. In April 2021, a Microsoft study of more than 30,000 global workers revealed that 41% were considering quitting or changing professions in the coming year.

McKinsey’s ‘The Future of Work’ shows that highly paid occupations are growing, and low-wage occupations are declining. The shift toward people finding increased salaries and happiness is growing and will continue to do so.

As before, the movement of these wage brackets is likely to be determined by skills and a changing landscape for what is required. It is also likely to change how people train and develop their employees. Rather than hire someone for a lower wage for smaller tasks, employees will be expected to be cross-functional, much like in smaller companies.

Employees will be encouraged to develop critical skills that enhance their career development and offered career development support so they can bring more crucial skills to the team.

Our workplace expectations continuously evolve to include new aspects that enhance our working and personal lives. The benefits of having a satisfied team speak for themselves, so it's always important to consider what they need and want.

People are becoming more conscious of the benefits and perks they miss out on. If you're not offering them something that a competitor can, you are never going to win the war for talent. Ask what your team wants regularly so you can implement perks that make them happy and want to stay with you.

Which workplace trends will your company be adopting next year?