Business leaders are beginning to see their workplace culture change. Employees are no longer fitting the same general profiles and their preferences are somewhat different than they were even only a few years ago.
While there have been a number of recent developments, especially in response to the health crisis and resulting lockdowns, employee mindset has been shifting for some time, with an even greater shift being prompted by technological developments. Remote working, for example, has become a central discussion for many companies as shared spaces are placed under greater scrutiny, however, cloud-based technology and the affordability of computers has been steering companies toward a teleworking operation for some time.
It is important for businesses to make sense of modern developments, especially when they pertain to employee happiness. This is because, as successful business leaders will know, positive workplace culture is conducive to productivity.
Flexibility
Flexibility in the workplace can mean a number of things but it is a quality that most businesses should consider with a greater number of employees prioritising it within their workplace. Remote working has been a significant contributor to this preference, with many seeing the flexibility to work at home also extending to the ability to choose one’s own hours.
Some business leaders are enacting a “tough loose tough” strategy that seeks to offer independence to employees regarding tasks at hand. By laying out expectations and goals in a tough manner, a business is able to be flexible in how tasks are accomplished, giving employees greater autonomy. A business ensures tasks are completed, while employees enjoy the freedom to accomplish them as they see fit.
Assurance
At a time of uncertainty, employees are placing a more significant emphasis upon certain factors of their job, such as annual leave and payroll services. Being unable to rely upon a business to ensure time off or honoured overtime payments can incur stress in one’s personal life.
Business leaders should make an effort to meet the needs of their employees, being clear and concise with benefits and schedules, preventing employees from seeing their workplace as a source of stress.
Care
Duty of care within the workplace has become a hot topic, not only as COVID remains a problem for shared working environments, but also as mental health issues are increasing in frequency. Employees, as a result, are seeking to find employers who will put into place effective support.
Such services can manifest in a number of ways but there is no quick fix. Businesses are going up against decades of mental health stigma, with a great number of employees feeling unable to discuss ailments like stress and depression with their line managers for fear of repercussions.
Efforts to ensure duty of care, however, are worthwhile for a business since they help to build a positive work environment and reduce the number of disruptions to workflow, such as the time that an employee might otherwise require off or risks that are created due to stress-induced negligence.
