Now that we have entered year two of the COVID pandemic, there are huge changes taking place in the way we get work done and how businesses are operating. This article will go over some of the major trends of 2022 that will define this new world. As new Covid variants develop, alongside inflation rates and other unpredictable events, the new realities businesses face have changed how their employees get work done.
Covid Testing Vs. Vaccine Mandates
One of the most controversial topics in the world right now is vaccine mandates. People have very strong opinions about this one way or the other, and it’s up to businesses to decide how to navigate their health protocols. The effectiveness of vaccines is continually being argued among those who believe they should be mandatory and those who feel testing is a better way to go.
One of the main issues of this debate is how a vaccine mandate will be held up in courts. There will surely be legal challenges for any business requiring their employees to be vaccinated in order to keep their job. Therefore, regular covid testing seems to be a good compromise that ensures the safety of workers while avoiding any further challenges in court.
Shorter Work Weeks, Less Raises
For companies that don’t have vast financial resources, finding and retaining talent versus rising rates of inflation poses a real challenge. It won’t matter if a business offers an additional 2-4% increase in salary if that money doesn’t come with more purchasing power for employees.
Therefore, some businesses are reducing the number of hours required for employees as a way to attract new talent. The general rule goes that as an employee’s salary is increased, the number of responsibilities and hours worked also goes up. Leisure time has become a real selling point in today’s professional world, so businesses that don’t have pure spending power are using this to their advantage.
Flexible Work Environments And High Turnover Rates
The days of the average work schedule are over. Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Employees nowadays want flexibility in when and where they work. In fact, it could be the deciding factor between businesses competing for their talent. There are a couple of reasons why turnover rates will continue to rise.
The first factor has to do with the social and emotional connections people have with their job. As working from home becomes normalized, peer pressure decreases. Meaning that employees who wanted to leave their jobs in the past would be more easily persuaded to stay longer by their peers when they were in an office. Now it’s much easier to make that decision if the majority of your time spent at a company is done through your laptop at home.
Another reason for sustained job turnover rates is the geographic expansion of potential employees. Remote work has totally changed people’s minds when it comes to their daily commute. If someone only has to be in an office once or twice a week, they are much more willing to travel greater distances. Companies that were formerly too far away from where they lived now come onto their radar.
A New Era
The COVID pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live and how we view our jobs. Now that people have gotten a taste of what life is like outside of the office, businesses have to change the lifestyle they offer to employees. It will be interesting to see what new trends continue to pop up this year.
