At the beginning of 2020, predictions about the future of work did not take into account a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, a major recession and a civil rights movement that has shaken the world to its core.
For starters, original predictions of the workplace included the importance of employee wellness through various recruitment strategies and how it would take center stage. Now, wellness is still an essential part of how a company operates with slight alterations. Workers are now juggling working from home with childcare responsibilities and a lack of socialization. This has cut into work-life balance for many, so it is vital for employers to emphasize taking care of both their physical and mental health.
Another prediction included modernizing paid time off, family leave and more. While these are still of the utmost importance to a healthy workplace, it is even more so now that the boundaries between home and work life continue to blur. Many workers have even started working more hours to justify their role, especially as layoffs continue to sweep across the country.
Activism as part of a company’s brand and improving employer-employee relations was another prediction, and the issue of #BlackLivesMatter and other movements have accelerated the need for organizations to speak up. At the very least, business leaders need to be prepared to have difficult and sensitive conversations with their employees.
