Karandeep Anand, vice president at Facebook’s Workplace, has offered five predictions on what to expect from the workforce in 2021.
“Now, as the dust settles, companies can see what was effective, and what wasn’t, about the experiment of remote work in 2020, and what they must do differently as it becomes the norm,” said Anand. “As we move towards 2021, we envision a new world in which advanced technologies merge with evolving philosophies of work.”
The first prediction is that frontline workers, such as delivery drivers and teachers, will have bigger decision-making roles. Businesses need to make the lives of these workers easier and less stressful, so hearing out what works best for them will be essential in the future.
Additionally, health and wellbeing will move up on the priority list for businesses. This year has had a great impact on both the mental and physical health of workers, and companies need to make it a point to invest more into resources that can help staffers navigate these difficult times.
Technology will also be a key component in the future of the workplace, particularly when it comes to training, collaboration and customer contact.
Tools like artificial intelligence, as well as augmented and virtual reality will enable companies to take over menial tasks, as well as help them upskill to work alongside these technology advancements.
Lastly, organizations are bound to adopt some form of flexibility in the future, which means that teams will become more geographically diverse. Employees will no longer be tied down to a specific city and have the freedom to work from wherever they please.
