The Future of Work

Change is the only constant in life. But often, change is so gradual and imperceptible that we don’t really notice it until a cataclysmic event happens. Similarly, the future of work, workers, and workspaces has been changing over the last few decades, being continually reshaped by increasing globalization, the need for greater workplace flexibility, economic and socio-political shifts, and the rapid pace of digital and technological advancements. But it took a global pandemic to force a fundamental change in how we work.

Many organizations became more productive, but virtual meeting fatigue also became a harsh reality. People want to work remote permanently, but many miss the office culture and collaboration. A lot of work can be done online, but many jobs cannot be done remotely, and some work is better accomplished face to face.

Now, we are on the back end of this major shift and a recent study reveals that 40% of employees are considering leaving their current employers and looking for new opportunities that offer more flexibility. Several factors are influencing what’s being called “The Great Resignation”.

• Flexibility of remote work
• Hesitancy to return to the office
• Burnout from extra workloads and stress
• Rethinking careers
• Major professional and personal life changes

The workplace is now the workspace—the office is wherever you choose to work from—remote, hybrid or a physical location.

People’s personal and professional lives have never been more intertwined, and employers are realizing they have an increasing responsibility to look out for the whole employee—their professional and personal wellbeing—and focus on human-centric, empowered work. Employees are now looking to their employers to provide them with more than just a paycheck. Organizations are expanding to offer senior care, mental care, parental leave, more affordable childcare, among other benefits.

To become a human-centric employer, leaders can no longer think about people, processes, and technology as three separate issues.

Organizations need to:

• Rethink productivity through the lens of efficiency with tools and technologies
• Focus on impact or outcome, rather than the number of activities or hours spent
• Train and upskill employees and grow new leaders
• Foster collaborative and secure, virtual-on-demand workspaces
• Create a diverse, sustainable, and socially aware work culture

The new, human-centric approach offers incredible opportunities for both employees and employers to rethink what work means, how to be successful in the new model and how to balance personal and professional lives—in essence, helping humans thrive.