The 2023 workplace trends every employer needs to adopt
Over the last few years, the work landscape has painted a crazy and unpredictable picture of how the world is changing the way we work forever.
Mercer’s latest report, Global Talent Trends 2022-2023, uncovers a list of several workplace trends that have helped shape the global workforce. Trends grow in significance due to increased social media use, particularly among younger generations.
To make positive change, people are taking control by sharing their thoughts and opinions about their workplaces. Some people expose their poor employee experience and share ways to make work life better.
Workplace trends every employer must avoid
Here are a few examples of workplace trends that have gained momentum worldwide. They have been initiated by unhappy workers looking for progressive change:
When workplace trends become a movement, it’s a true indication of how workers are feeling. Lying flat, for example, is a phrase used by the employees of Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba. He promoted the work culture known as 996, referring to his belief that people should happily work from 9am until 9pm, 6 days a week. Employees chose to push back against the demands of their employer. Their protest included lowering standards, refusing overtime and spending their work hours on their mobile phones.
Humineral is the latest trending term to hit our headlines, originating in China. It epitomises the dissatisfied worker. After gaining an education, employers extract a humineral’s potential, and when they no longer offer any value, they are disposed of. Forbes discusses this new trend further and considers the disconnect of young adults from the workplace and economy.
There is nothing to be gained from poor, unrealistic working conditions. This only creates unhappy people, poor productivity and a negative employer brand. Workplace trends are often the result of poor employee experiences. They are a sign that there are issues an employer needs to address.
Future trends that will deliver a better employee experience
Workplace trends that expose negative working conditions are commonly short-lived. They disappear from your newsfeed as soon as the next trend comes along. However, positive workplace trends tend to last.
Mercer’s report reveals how future-driven organisations are using the shift in work as an opportunity to redesign the workplace. Behaviours like comparing people to resources are the opposite of what work will look like for leaders and employers. Mercer identified 5 trends that are shaping the people agenda in 2023. These can help you build an organisation for the future.
Reset for relevance
Through active listening, discover what drives employee behaviour. Your insights will help build cultures and practices co-designed by employers and employees.
Work in partnership
Work in collaboration with your employees. Partner rather than lead. Make equity and inclusion central to your organisation. This will attract a more diverse and robust talent pool.
Deliver on total wellbeing
Make employee wellbeing a priority. Promote physical and mental fitness for a resilient and healthy workforce. Offer personalised support when it matters to breed a culture of belonging and inclusivity.
Build for employability
To engage, retain and attract talent, you must deliver ongoing training and development opportunities to help people upskill and gain a sense of achievement. Encourage internal talent mobility. Democratise work opportunities. Provide new pathways to create an agile workforce with durability.
Harness collective energy
The pandemic accelerated the evolution of the work landscape. New business models, technologies and ways of working have solved some of the toughest challenges faced by organisations. Making changes to future-proof has unlocked the energy of organisations and revealed new potential.
Final thoughts
Workplace trends have the capacity to mobilise an army of disgruntled supporters. Although designed to produce positive change from a negative situation, they can be damaging, not only to the employer but to an entire workforce.
For this reason, employers must work to create an employer brand that reflects positive workplace trends that stem from a healthy collaboration between employers and employees.
Looking for more insights about talent attraction and engagement? Check out our employer resources.