Is The Workplace As We Once Knew It Dead?

After institutionalized structures of the workplace were completely broken down, companies, employees, and managers were left trying to understand what the future holds. 

While it would be convenient to have a one-size-fits-all answer, the reality is much more convoluted. 

Absolute truths finally came to the surface in the past few years: workers were dissatisfied, underpaid, and had no work-life balance. 

After months of isolation and the realization that their current endeavors were directionless, employees began to take control of their future. This led to what is now called the Great Resignation, or Great Reshuffle, where professionals either left their jobs in search of new careers or to seek better benefits. 

Throughout the thousands of think pieces and research conducted about the topic of the future of work, one question has persisted: how can the workplace be better?  

For white collar workers, the solution is much easier to attain. Advancements in technology and software have made flexible working more accessible than ever before, allowing them to achieve a healthy balance between their work and home responsibilities, while also enjoying a boost in pay.  

But for those who do not have the privilege of doing so, preventing burnout and retaining workers becomes more difficult.  

Many leaders have resorted to increased pay in order to keep their workers on board, but some believe that this method ignores more glaring issues, such as job safety, lack of childcare support, difficult work conditions, and more. 

What has become clear is that subpar work benefits are no longer enough to satisfy today’s professionals. With job openings and quit rates hitting record highs in the last several months, leaders are having to face their own existential awakening.