2016 is set to bring about important changes in workplaces around the world. This article summarises the most important trends expected to be implemented across the workplace.

Technology

For several years, technology has been playing a transformative role changing the workplace landscape. More recently, there has been a focus on using technology to improve employees’ engagement and to facilitate repetitive tasks, boosting productivity and facilitating empowerment. Technology is being used to change internal processes and to redefine work standards, and this year we can expect to see a tendency towards bringing technology in during the initial stages of every new project. Moreover, some organisations have been focusing on integrating the various technologies available to create smart workplaces. Moreover, a 2013 study carried out by Polycom and Redshift revealed that video-based communication solutions are set to replace email as the preferred form of organisational communication, both within a company and between the company and its clients.

Rethinking productivity

An ACAS report summarised the emerging understanding of productivity as a seven-layered concept that entails well-designed work spaces and tasks, trust, giving employees their own voice, having skilled managers, dealing with conflict effectively, fair practices, and a shared understanding of everyone’s rights and responsibilities. Another report by the Workforce Institute suggested that another emerging trend involves considering the range of benefits offered to staff as an organisation’s competitive advantage. Unique benefits packages will attract and reward the most talented employees, and this will contribute to the increased productivity of the businesses they work for.

Flexibility

A report by consultancy firm CallisonRTKL stressed that the reliance on technology has resulted in employees being “always on”. In many organisations, staff are expected to work anywhere and everywhere, and making this possible requires a flexible approach to the way workspaces are designed, furnished, and thought about. This is being made possible through wireless technologies and work space sharing models like hot desking or teleworking. It’s important to note that flexible workspaces are not just about reorganising space, but also about making beneficial changes in the organisational culture of a company and supporting those changes with the right workspace design and business models.

Workplace demographics

Large-scale workplace demographics are also set to change during 2016. It is expected that this year, more than 3.5 million “baby boomers” will retire, and a new generation (the so-called “millennials”) will take over a large number of management and executive positions. This transition has the potential to transform the way we do business, as millennials are characterised by being focused on innovative and transformative work practices. A PricewaterhouseCoopers report affirmed that some of the changes that will most likely take place as a result of the changing demographics include a relative flattening of hierarchical corporate structures, a focus on doing business in global settings, and an increasing emphasis on fluid and instant communications.

From work-life balance to work-life integration

During 2016, we will witness a different approach to productivity that focuses on employees’ well-being. A healthy workforce is more productive and better motivated, and benefits employers because absenteeism and sick leave decrease. Some companies have made changes to the working environment to ensure it promotes a healthy and safe atmosphere. Common strategies are the addition of greenery (from plants to green walls), which according to some studies has proven to offer important benefits such as lower stress levels and better air quality.

Another related trend is the redesign of work areas so employees are exposed to natural light. This benefits staff in several ways, from helping them sleep better and for longer to helping them be more alert and productive during the day. Several studies confirm that exposing employees to both greenery and natural light can increase overall well-being and creativity by 15 per cent, and boost productivity by 6 per cent.

This year we have also seen other work-life integration trends solidify in many workplaces. For example, the creation of dedicated “quiet areas” where staff can retreat to if they need to take a break or concentrate on something. According to a study published by Steelcase, providing employees with a way of escaping noise and distractions can improve their ability to multitask, make for a smoother workflow, and boost collaboration.

Lastly, companies are increasingly situating work and play along a continuum by creating “play areas”, “fun zones”, or fitness areas. This strategy was implemented a while ago by large companies like Google, Red Bull, or Facebook, and it is expected that more companies will adopt this trend during the remainder of 2016.

Sources:

Workplace Trends 2016

http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/l/4/Workplace_trends_of_2016.pdf
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2015/11/01/10-workplace-trends-for-2016/#975ca00222c1
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234072377_Workplace_greenery_and_perceived_level_of_stress_Benefits_of_access_to_a_green_outdoor_environment_at_the_workplace
http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2014/08/natural-light-in-the-office-boosts-health.html
http://spacestor.uk.com/2016/02/finding-a-quiet-space-in-a-loud-workplace/
https://www.steelcase.com/insights/articles/privacy-crisis/
http://www.hermanmiller.com/research/research-summaries/set-them-free-how-alternative-work-styles-can-be-a-good-fit.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2015/11/01/10-workplace-trends-for-2016/#473637c2222c
https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/managing-tomorrows-people/future-of-work/assets/reshaping-the-workplace.pdf
http://investor.polycom.com/company/investor-relations/news/news-details/2013/Video-Conferencing-Expected-to-be-Preferred-Business-Communications-Tool-in-2016-According-to-New-Survey-on-Global-Video-Conferencing-Trends-and-Etiquette/default.aspx