5 workplace trends that will shape the future

We are all familiar with the ‘traditional’ way of working whereby employees work 9-5 in an office under the direction of a manager and receive a performance review each year. However, now, technology is changing everything.

Employers are beginning to move away from offering only the 9-5 working style and are championing the work-life balance. Employees are now able to use modern cloud and collaboration tools, meaning they are less tied down to physical locations.

These significant changes have revolutionised the functioning of workplaces, creating a more fluid working environment, redefining productivity, and empowering people to do their best.

In a time of on-going change, businesses must ensure they keep up-to-date with workplace trends as they are what will shape the future. In this blog, we have gone through five trends we believe will be most prevalent in the future.

Rise of flexible working

In a recent study by YouGov it was found that only six percent of people work the traditional hours of 9-5. Instead, as found by Timewise research, 73% of the UK workforce are currently working either part-time or full-time with some form of flexible working pattern. These statistics make it clear that flexible working is here to stay and is no longer a special condition for some people in work. Employers who have focused on giving greater flexibility to their staff have capitalised on increased productivity, reduced costs and improved retention.

Unfortunately, there are still many perceived barriers to flexible work, such as outdated workplace cultures, and attitudes that perpetuate the ‘flexibility stigma,’ despite the compelling case for more flexible work and the growing trend.

For businesses to attract and keep the best talent for the future, they should look to modern technologies and see how they can helo In order to attract and keep the best talent for the future, organisations should look to technology and how it will better meet the flexible working needs of the workforce. For example, cloud tools such as the Serval Hosted Desktop mean that you can offer your employees the flexibility they need as it enables them to access apps and data wherever they are working, on any device through via the internet. As a result, they have access to all the software, files and data they have when sitting in the office if you simply provide them with a laptop, computer, or even a tablet.

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Collaboration

Collaboration is nothing new. However, previously, it was all about team meetings in board rooms with whiteboards. These days, people are reliant on technology to collaborate. Studies have proven this, with 83% of respondents saying they depend on technology to collaborate and connect with their teams.

Fortunately, cloud computing and faster internet connections have meant there is now a range of tools available to help the workforce collaborate with one another effectively while they aren’t able to be in the same location. To keep up with these desires of the modern workforce, it is crucial for businesses to choose the right collaboration tools to use in their business activities.

Microsoft 365 is a popular tool among business users which frees you completely from the traditional way of working. It also satisfies the needs of all teams in your organisation regardless of the size, location, working style or device in use.

Shift to the cloud

Cloud computing has been one of the biggest workplace technology revolutions for both small and large corporate enterprises. This was highlighted in a recent survey by RightScale where it was found 96% of respondents use the cloud. This shift shows no sign of slowing down, even after the acceleration of in the last 10 years.

Old-school business applications before the cloud were complex and expensive, as they required a wide variety of hardware and software to run. They also needed a team of experts to instal, configure, check, run, secure, maintain and upgrade – the average SME wouldn’t stand a chance!

Luckily, the cloud changed that. IT environments can now be scaled to suit every demand level, removing the challenges that come with storing and handling your own data. Some of the reasons for moving to the cloud are listed below:

Flexibility – You can access, view and modify your documents and data from any location and on virtually any device, providing you have an internet connection.
Scalability –You can scale your cloud environment on-demand without any interruption to business flow, or any expensive, unplanned changes.
Cost-Effective – You only pay for what you use.
Security – A Cloud Service Provider (CSP) will constantly update their infrastructure, patch their servers and monitor against cyber threats.

Greater emphasis on work-life balance

As our dependence on technology has increased and we are using it more in business, the pressure for employees to stay connected at all times is greater than ever. Unfortunately though, when employees are forced to work outside of their usual working hours, it can impact both their productivity and morale.

It is estimated that by 2025, roughly 75% of the global workforce will be made up of millennials. Additionally, in a 2016 report from Deloitte, it was found that when it comes to future career opportunities, millennials attach the most importance to a good work-life balance. Employers looking to acquire and maintain millennial talent now and in the future must, therefore, be committed to offering a good work-life balance and flexibility.

Employers are gradually starting to think and focus on the work-life balance in a different way to before. Because of this, we are increasingly seeing more and more employers offering flexible schedules to accommodate appointments, family events and other personal issues. Remember – an employee will be less productive if they are stressed and overworked.

Reshaping of performance reviews

Slowly, the traditional annual performance review is a thing of the past. According to research, 66% of employees say performance review interfere with their productivity. What’s more – 95% of managers stated they were not satisfied with their organisation’s performance review process.

Employers are now providing more responsive feedback all year-round, whether that’s monthly or weekly. “We’re in the early stages of a revolution,” said Jim Barnett, CEO and co-founder of Glint, a cloud-based employee engagement tool. “A lot of companies are doing this… and I think over the next two years we’re going to see a profound shift in this area. Progressive HR leaders are realising that they need continuous, real-time feedback and solutions.”

These are five big trends that we feel play an important part in the modern workplace – ones that will only be more noticeable in the future workplace.

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