2021 Trends in the Workplace Series: Introduction
We are almost a year into this global pandemic. Can you believe that? On one hand, this pandemic feels like a decade. I haven’t seen some of my dear family and friends for an abnormal amount of time. On the other, living and moving around in a society without masks and distance seems so close and familiar. Many of us hoped that 2021 would be the year we get back to normal, but I must share some bad news. It’s not happening. In fact, our world will never be the same after this pandemic.
This is also true of the workplace. Remote work has become a permanent fixture. Synchronous and asynchronous work on projects and within teams is gaining traction. Commitments and tangible work around equity and inclusion is long-lasting. We are also seeing some distressing trends. We are losing women in the workforce at a quadruple rate compared to men. This is mostly linked to the increased need for childcare while children learn remotely or vacillate between in-person and remote instruction. We are also seeing a loss of jobs to automation and decreased vacancy in public spaces. And the country is divided around the role of vaccines in bringing people back to in-person office spaces. Whew, it’s tough, y’all.
We’ve all had to manage a large amount of change in the last twelve months. Take a moment to let that fact sink into your mind and heart. Change is a lot to hold in our bodies. First, we need to recognize the changes and allow ourselves to rest. Then we need to realize that more change is coming. Some of these workplace trends will become permanent. Audre Lorde once said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
For the next few weeks, I am writing about these new workplace trends and how smaller businesses can adapt. So often we think that big changes are only options in larger organizations, yet every business can tap into the benefits of these workplace trends. With a little preparation and intention, your business can effectively adapt to the next normal. In this weekly series, I will address the changes within a learning framework that addresses impacts at the individual, team, and organization level. Some examples include:
· Individual level – virtual workplace, equity & inclusion knowledge, and flexible work schedules
· Team level – collaborative workspaces, working agreements, equity & inclusion in team dynamics, and asynchronous & synchronous work
· Organization level – staffing strategies, hybrid workplaces (remote & in-person), employee well-being, and systemic equity & inclusion
· Self as instrument – these workplace changes require a new level of self-management
These workplace trends are evolving, and my hope for this series is that you will also engage in the dialogue about your experiences. What are you seeing? Which of these trends resonate with you? What are your hopes for the new workplace? Check back here each Friday for new content. I look forward to taking this journey with you as we bravely go where no society has gone before. Let’s do this.
Photo Credit: Standsome Worklifestyle via Unsplash