As the new year rolls around, companies are constantly looking for new ways to increase productivity, improve their business, and keep their employees engaged. Trends are the general direction in which something is changing, and there are many changes that businesses are making for this new year. Here are some new workplace trends to consider for your business in 2023:
Create flexibility
There are many ways to add flexibility in the workplace. The Covid-19 pandemic increased the amount of hybrid and remote workers, and businesses have noticed that many employees want to continue that flexibility. While there are benefits to creating remote and hybrid positions, that is not the only way to add more flexibility to your company. Here are some ways to create flexibility:
- Allow employees to answer important personal calls or texts
- Create more part-time positions
- Take feedback
- Trust your employees
- Allow for more flexible start and end times
Prioritize employee wellbeing
Mental health and employee burnout should be prioritized discussion topics when businesses are cultivating ideas and changes for the new year. Some causes for declining employee mental health include job insecurity, a toxic work environment, and not receiving recognition.
Today, employee burnout is common. Burnout is caused by having no career progression, lack of support from management, and being overworked. In 2022, nearly 50% of employees and 53% of managers reported that they felt burnt out with their job.
Putting your employees’ wellbeing first will allow employees to enjoy the work they do. Here are some ways to make your employees feel prioritized:
- Have clear communication
- Provide paid time off
- Create a social environment
- Make mental health a priority
- Have empathy
- Be appreciative
Focus on skills over experience
If you have ever been interviewed for a job, you have most likely been asked about your past work experience. Throughout time, employees have worked similar jobs during their entire career. Today, there are so many technological advances and economic changes that are causing workers to frequently change their jobs or learn new skills to gain new opportunities and provide for themselves.
“Soft skills” is a term used for abilities related to how you work and interact with others. Some examples of soft skills include management and leadership skills, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Many employers focus on employees with more job-specific skills and technical skills which is known as “hard skills” but there are many benefits to hiring soft skilled workers in addition to hard skilled workers.
In 2023, many employers should focus more on the skills that an individual brings to the table rather than their past work experience. Having employees with different skills and abilities can help create diversity within your business, which will close skill gaps.
Provide employee benefits
The importance of employee benefits is expected to increase in 2023. 60% of U.S. job seekers find benefits to be one of the most important elements when looking for a job. Parental leave, 401(k), increased vacation days, and paid time off are some of the many benefits that increase the value of compensation packages for employees.
When job seekers are presented with either a high-paying job or a lower-paying job with better benefits, 88% of job seekers consider the lower-paying job because they want helpful benefits. Here are some of the most popular employee benefits to consider adding to your company:
- Health insurance
- Paid family leave
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Retirement plan benefits
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Flexible work schedule
- Life insurance
- Mental health benefits
- Education benefits
2023 is full of new trends within the workplace. The new year provides a great opportunity for businesses to make improvements that help retain employees and grow the company.
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