10 Things 2022 Taught Us About the Workplace

The 2022 workplace is all over the place – for some, their offices are remote; for others, they’re hybrid; and still, others are back in the office five days a week. But no matter where you perform your job, we can all agree that our work has changed for good.

Trakstar, a talent development software for workforces of all sizes and types, talks to human resources and people leaders daily about the problems they’re facing, the solutions they’re using, and what they’re learning.

Here are 10 of them:

Home offices and company stipends

According to NorthOne, 58.6% of the U.S. population works remotely, and workers realized early on that they needed a quiet space to work. 58% of people have spent on average $500 or more on renovating home offices, according to TechRepublic. 

Many companies like Trakstar understand the benefits of helping employees set up home offices. We give employees a stipend to purchase everything from monitors to headphones, desks, and chairs. We understand a happy and comfortable employee will ultimately be successful. 

Work-life balance

More and more organizations need to be flexible; the old 9 to 5 workday is no more. It’s no secret that a healthy work-life balance will ensure higher productivity and engagement, and a happy employee is more than willing to go the extra mile.

Parents want to be able to attend their child’s volleyball game or school performance without repercussions. On the flip side, companies want to know that if they need an employee to pull an all-nighter, they will.

Employee wellness

As companies compete for top talent and retain employees, organizations know that programs are essential. After two stressful years, organizations are creating wellness programs to promote healthier lifestyles, company culture, and team building, which keeps employees engaged and productive.

Technology and cybersecurity

Remote and hybrid work would not be an option without technology. For organizations, technology is a blessing and a curse. In 2022, cyber threats have increased dramatically in the last two years, and CEOs are awake at night worrying about whether they will be hacked or when. Companies are offering more mandatory learning opportunities to employees to protect company data.

Relationship building and HR automated systems

In 2022, most of our daily job functions have become automated. Sales representatives can send emails by placing a contact in an automated email sequence, and an email will go out on a Thursday afternoon.

With applicant tracking systems, managers don’t have to write job openings or even send out interview requests; a computer program does everything for the manager. All the manager has to do is conduct the interview.

With remote work, relationship building can be complex without face-to-face interaction. Managers are making more time to get to know their employees with weekly 1:1 meetings and performance reviews, and goal setting.

Analytics and insights make a significant impact on business strategy

Analytics and insights have given businesses the upper hand in making more efficient decisions within their industries and workforce. Now we have the power to see how other companies and how employees stack up against each other. These insights create visuals for organizations to create solutions for gaps they may have missed.

Now we can see where future problems may lie and how we can change strategy before it becomes a problem. Companies have real-time data to help solve. How can this help employees in particular? Employees can also see how they stack up against their competitors. We now have the technology and analytics to help us all grow together.

Hybrid and Remote work is here to stay

Working in an office full-time has become something that is not usual anymore. The good news is, if you enjoy working from home, hybrid and remote work are essentially here to stay. I think we can all agree there are so many upsides to working from home, like being able to have a flexible schedule, no more commuting to work, and you can wear sweatpants on team calls, and no one has to know!

Some may argue that much more work is being done when working from home and less of a work-life balance. Your office is now in your home, so is that too much comfort or work? 2022 has been the year of finding that balance.

Aligning your organization with online learning

When a company hires you, you most likely spend several days going through onboarding, compliance videos, and training that keep you up to date with your organization. Using learning management systems has saved companies money, time, and given them ongoing resources.

Performance management systems

When you have a team of 10 or more people, it can be hard to keep up with everyone’s performance. With the rise of technology, performance management systems guarantee readily made reports and an in-depth look into how the workforce is progressing. Now there is one place that provides continuous feedback, ensuring your people are on the same page and there are no surprises when it comes to performance review time!

Teamwork makes the dream work

Workers are under so much pressure to perform, and it is comforting to have others who can lend a helping hand when needed. Team building exercises have helped increase team productivity, motivation, communication, and collaboration.

A monthly happy hour can help break the ice, offer team members an opportunity to see others in a different light, and create a strong team culture that leads to a successful team!

Want to learn more about how you can update your workforce with the new trends?

With 2023 just around the corner, you want to stay up-to-date with the best technology for your workforce. Finding the right tools can be challenging when you don’t know where to start. With Trakstar’s all-in-one platform, you can prepare your workforce for the high demands that 2023 will bring. 

To learn more about what Trakstar can do for you, schedule a demo.