The Future of Work is here, but it is constantly changing. To be successful in the present and the future, all businesses must update how they work and prepare for transformation.
Defining the Future of Work
What is the Future of Work? At its core, the Future of Work is the sum of the changes we experience as a workforce now as well as what we expect to develop in the future. These changes include personnel transitions and expectations, technology, work styles, and more.
Cisco Webex defines the Future of Work as how we “shape, create and design [the] modern employee and customer experience.”
myHRfuture defines it as “a result of many forces of change affecting three deeply connected dimensions of an organisation: work (the what), the workforce (the who), and the workplace (the where).”
The Future of Work is comprised of five parts. Each part is vital to business success. The Future of Work is:
- Remote
- Health-Focused
- Tech-Forward
- Adaptable to Cultural Change
- Human-Focused
The Future of Work is Remote
It probably is no surprise to you that the Future of Work is remote. Now, more than ever, employees expect to be able to WFA at least some of the time.
To learn more about remote work, read this article.
The increase in remote work requires digital collaboration skills and solutions. If your team needs to migrate to a new collaboration platform to accommodate remote work, learn more about our services at this link.
Businesses are More Health-Focused Now Than Ever
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses are responding to their employees’ health needs in new ways. Businesses are expanding how they support their employees’ health with additional health care coverage, mental health support, and financial health support.
This Forbes article says:
And as more people work remotely post-pandemic, HR will need to focus on flexibility benefits and employee assistance programs (EAPs). This goes beyond work-from-home privileges, and puts a heightened focus on things like flex-time schedules, child care benefits, and mental health support.
The Future is Tech-Forward
When it comes to the Future of Work, the technology we use is constantly changing and upgrading. This technology is automated and intelligent. It includes Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, robotics, augmentation technology, modern collaboration tools, and more.
With these advancements, employees will spend less time on repetitive tasks, physical labor, and data processing. Instead, they will focus on assignments that require social and emotional skills, logical reasoning, and creativity. This shift will allow employees to work on higher-level tasks, which will likely lead to your workforce being more fulfilled in their careers.
Is Your Business Adaptable to Cultural Change?
The Future of Work means adapting to new company cultures with an ever-changing workforce. Every day, younger employees join your workforce, changing the dynamic and culture of your company. This means businesses need to be adaptable to these changes. What created your company culture five or 50 years ago may no longer work for your current and future workforce.
Cisco Webex explains how to do this well:
That [means] creating a more creative, responsive, and less hierarchical work experience. One that encourages flexible collaboration across boundaries and borders; work/life integration; open communication; and creative freedom at every level of the organization. In a culture built on trust, the best talent thrives … and is less likely to leave!
The Future of Work is Human-Focused
With the Future of Work, jobs will be less company-focused and more human-focused. In addition to the health and culture improvements, people will be able to experience roles at other companies in other industries, which was critical for many employees and companies during the COVID-19 crisis. This is called a “cross-industry talent exchange.”
This Entrepreneur article explains the process well:
Well, it’s where unemployed people, because of this crisis, temporarily work at “organizations that have an excess of work,” such as logistics. Why is this beneficial? It helps avoid “the frictional and reputational costs associated with letting people go while supporting workers in developing new skills and networks.
Not only do employees learn new skills in a new environment, but their temporary peers get to learn from them, too. And both companies benefit from the exchange as well, helping relieve stress for the leaders on both sides of the arrangement.
This is just one example of how businesses are becoming more human-focused. The technology companies utilize will only magnify the opportunities people will have as this focus is adapted. As businesses become more human-focused, they will continue to choose options for their workforce that will benefit their employees, not just the bottom line.
Conclusion
As the demand for health-focused, tech-forward, and human-focused companies increases, it’s vital that your company moves into the Future of Work for the well-being of your workforce and the health of your company.
If you’re moving forward with a remote work option, consider partnering with Meet Me In The Cloud for your collaboration platform needs. Learn more about our services at this link.
