What will our working lives look like in 5, 10, or 15 years? In this workplace business trends guide, we examine expert insights and the latest research to find out.As technology continues to evolve rapidly, what can business owners and HR leaders do to stay ahead of the curve?So what are business trends and what can we expect the HR landscape to look like in future years? Let’s go beyond the crystal ball and look at the wheels that are already in motion toward the future of work.For a comprehensive look at current HR trends, download our eBook depicting what’s around the corner here.

What is in this future work trend guide?

In this guide, you’ll learn about:

• How technologies in development will affect future working
• The transformation of workspaces
• Workplace tools and tech to establish now for future success
• What future wellness at work will look like

Download the guide now.

How has the nature of employment changed?

In recent years, we’ve seen a transformation of working styles. These changes have solved some very real problems that have always held the business world back.For those new to HR, our guide on managing human resources provides a foundational understanding here.Let’s take a closer look at some of the key ways that employment has changed, how businesses can adapt, and why these changes are a positive force for the future.

1. A global realisation about productivity

We’ve all seen the memes about working from home stereotypes – as soon as team members get a chance to work from home they’re going to be drinking wine, watching Netflix and just generally bringing this kind of energy to the workday: Even though it sounds fun, we all know that this is absolutely not true.In fact, we have discovered that when their employees work from home, they are just as efficient as when they are working in the office.There’s plenty of evidence to suggest that employee performance and employee engagement may have even improved – employees are interrupted less often, can focus more easily and are able to take control over their working schedules.In our survey of global employers;

• 30% anticipate continuing to work remotely or flexibly
• 27% anticipate allowing flexibility in location and/or hours of work
• Only 21% anticipate returning to the office completely

When asked why they would be continuing with flexible working for their company, our surveyed employers said;

• “We have proven that this is just as productive as working in the office.”
• “ We have seen some increased efficiency.”
• “There is an appetite for this kind of working and our data suggests that productivity can be maintained in such an environment.”

2. We now know we can work from anywhere

As leaders’ fears about productivity are put to rest, we’re now starting to see that teams really can perform flexible work effectively from anywhere. As an employee, this poses a great opportunity.They could go and work from a friend or family member’s house. They could extend their holiday and work in paradise for a while. They could move interstate or overseas for a partner and not have to worry about their job.Sound fun (and potentially romantic)? We think so too. For employers, the opportunity is just as great.With fewer employees moving on due to changes in personal location, plus added employee happiness due to the freedom of flexible work, you’ll see your retention rates jump. How can we keep an employee that we love on the team if they’re moving abroad? The simple answer is Global Teams. We take care of managing local employment contracts, payroll and compliance for your international employees so you can easily keep them on the books.Additionally to retaining great talent at home, international hiring can turn your candidate pool into a candidate ocean when recruiting.

3. Businesses of distributed teams have an edge

Say you see two job ads.Job Ad 1: This full-time role will be based in our lively city office, with hours being 8.30 – 5 pm. Be close to cafes, shops and public transport. Perks include; a great office radio with collaborative playlists, group work throughout the day and pizza every Friday.Job Ad 2: We have a remote-first and flexible work approach, so you can choose to work from our office or from your home, wherever that may be. As our team is based all over the world, we’ve invested in smart technology to make working from different locations and on different schedules a breeze. We come together for bi-annual celebrations and run virtual events regularly to keep connected.Which one would you choose? The first ad has classic perks; Friday lunch, close to cafes, and accessible by public transport. But there are also so many challenges for employees.Staff are likely to be subject to long commutes, will have difficulty in logistically balancing work and care responsibilities, and job seekers from areas outside the office radius will be unable to apply.For the second ad, job seekers will be able to enjoy office culture if they so wish but will also be able to have a much-improved lifestyle afforded by the company’s flexibility.They could work from home, interstate or abroad. They could live in a more financially accessible location without having hours of commuting time.They can work while also having time to care for children or other loved ones. While they’re not bound by time and location, they’ll have everything they need to get their work done and stay connected with colleagues.We’ve had a taste of what flexible work can give us and it is extremely appealing.Research suggests that 77% of employees feel that flexible working is more appealing than a pay rise when considering a new role. Businesses that aren’t offering it could miss out on top talent.Thinking of becoming a flexible workplace? Download our flexible work policy template here.

4. The purpose of the office is changing

Traditionally the office is a place where all work is done. Whether you’re writing a report, running a brainstorming session or knuckling down for some deep work – this has all taken place at a singular desk.There are very few things in life that are as frustrating as being interrupted when you’re working to reach a hard deadline. Turning off your notifications and settling in at home gives you the best chance of getting things done.An indisputable bonus of the office is its functionality as a collaborative space.With most offices being open plan and having designated meeting areas, it’s perfect for team building days, group projects and collaborative thinking.When given the option, employees are likely to use the workplace this way, so businesses should be looking to explore this function. How can you help your office spaces become ones of creativity and connection?Measures such as providing breakfast or lunch, investing in collaborative spaces and providing the technology to make interstate or international workers included can help make this powerful adjustment.

5. Diversity is non-negotiable

The Black Lives Matter movement reinforced that diversity and inclusion are an absolute must and workplace inclusion drives have trippled since then. According to the Glassdoor Diversity and Inclusion Workplace Survey 2020, 76% of employees and job seekers say a diverse workforce is an important factor when evaluating companies.Fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces also opens your company up to invaluable diverse thinking. The mutual benefits for employees and businesses to embrace diversity are well-known among many leaders.With diverse insights come more opportunities for problem-solving, accessing larger markets and overall business growth.Throwing back to international hiring – a great way to ensure a diverse team is to open your talent pool to the largest number of candidates.When you make roles at your company globally accessible, you’re going to attract candidates that are truly from all walks of life – leading your business to not only benefit from diverse thinking but also bring international market knowledge to your team.Remote work can also make the workplace more accessible to other diverse workers in the community. Neurodiverse workers and workers with physical disabilities may benefit from the ability to work partially from home, as will working parents and carers.Learn more about supporting your neurodiverse workers and workers with a disability.

6. Cloud technology is key to efficiency

You can’t talk about the changing nature of work without looking toward technology. Having the proper technology is the key to making flexible working possible.Cloud technology is the key to efficiency and gaining the digital skills required to use different programs, means there’s no going back to clunky manual processes.To further streamline your HR processes and reduce admin time, check out our free guide here.When you get the right technology structures in place, working from anywhere is a breeze.Essentials on the remote working software list are:

• An instant messaging system (think Slack)
• Safe and secure file storage (think Google Drive)
• Cloud HR and Payroll (think Employment Hero )

The future of human resources is here, and its capabilities are only getting stronger. From gathering employee data and unveiling the world of people analytics, right through to managing employee benefits, the world is your oyster when it comes to HR tech.Learn more about taking HR digital.

7. Digital recruitment and onboarding are the new normal

If the nature of employment has changed, of course, that means the nature of hiring has changed too.Now that businesses are discovering the power of distributed teams (teams that work in the office or flexibly from various locations), this is shaking up the world of recruitment and onboarding.When you’re hiring for a distributed workforce, chances are you won’t physically meet many of your candidates during the recruitment process.While this can be a little odd at first, if you have the right processes in place, online recruitment can be just as effective as an in-person program.Your helping hand through digital recruitment? An Applicant Tracking System (ATS).Applicant tracking system technology serves as a central place for hiring throughout each stage of the recruitment process including job postings, communicating with candidates, storing resumes and internal notes, scheduling interviews, collecting interview feedback, and extending offers to candidates.It’s a game-changer for recruitment conducted online.Hiring managers may want to take a little bit of extra time to get to know the candidates or ask them remote-specific questions to make sure they’re right for the role.Looking for specific talent overseas? Read our guides on finding and hiring sales and tech talent.

What are business trends? Employment Hero can help

Although there are challenges, businesses – especially SMEs – stand to gain so much from this new chapter of work. Employment Hero is ready to help you embrace these changes and enhance your HR capabilities. From flexible working arrangements to employee engagement and HR processes, you can keep your team skilled and ready to take on new challenges. Prepare yourself for what’s coming with the help of the world’s first all-in-one employment OS. What are business trends and how can you adapt? Download our guide now.