The Future of Work: Workplace Trends in 2022

Work definitely had its moments in 2020 and 2021. The global workforce experienced a significant transformation during this time, and it accelerated greatly in 2021, driven by the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The accelerated transformation was only accelerated by strains on businesses amid unprecedented labor shortages and shifting worker priorities.

The shifts in the labor market have led to workers reprioritizing their needs, further reformulating how work gets done and where it gets done. As a result, employers are facing continuous pressure to adapt to emerging demands. For businesses and organizations to remain competitive in the shifting labor market, leaders will have to redefine the deflated, pre-pandemic workplace model. Take a look at just a few of the workplace trends industry experts predict will continue to shape the way we work in 2022.

What Would Be the Workplace Trends in 2022?

Many leaders may think supporting a remote or hybrid workforce model will not require much change. After all, many businesses and organizations already had remote employees before the pandemic. Supporting remote, hybrid, and on-premises workers will require more than minimal changes. There are workplace trends that can be skewed in a variety of directions, such as employee-centric, tech-centric, business-centric, and org-centric.

Trend 1: Hybrid and Remote Work Lives On

When asked for his take on what trends he anticipates seeing continue into 2022, Ashu Singhal, President of Orion Networks said, ”More and more companies going into a hybrid model as they see increasing pressure on recruiting.”

More businesses and organizations are opening their eyes wider to the potential for new technologies and digital processes to transform how work is completed. This doesn’t mean replacing workers with automated machines but implementing applications and solutions that can eliminate distractions and lead to a more productive and efficient workforce.

Jon Fausz, Director of Operations at 4BIS.COM anticipates that in 2022, we should expect to see a larger reliance on remote working and collaboration. 

”We are seeing more companies analyzing the expense of having a large office and realizing it is not necessary for their business. Coupled with employees wanting to work remotely means you need to adapt. Platforms like Microsoft Teams and One Drive for Business can help if they are implemented correctly. Employees especially love the collaborative workspaces in Microsoft 365 that allow multiple employees to work on the same document at the same time,” said Fausz. 

Trend 2: Secure Remote and Hybrid Workforces

One of the big changes created by the pandemic is that it’s no longer possible to place workers in a class that’s entirely or mostly remote or entirely or mostly on-premises. All workers, regardless of where they are working from, require secure access to resources whether they’re in the office or at home. Workers can no longer be classified based on location.

For businesses and organizations putting a hybrid or remote workforce model in place, consideration must be given to security best practices that will lockdown security for wherever employees work.

Cybersecurity professionals know the importance of endpoint security, but securing the endpoint becomes even more critical with the arrival of zero trust. With an identity-based framework, authenticated users will have access to all resources they have been given permission to access. If their systems or devices have been compromised, the resources on those systems and devices can also be compromised. 

Said Michael Nelson, President and Founder of TLC Tech, ”In 2020/2021, we saw an obvious need to set up users to be able to work remotely.  As the pandemic progressed, a hybrid WFH (work-from-home) and on-premise model became the norm.  Now that this is the new normal, we’re seeing an increased need to secure all points of entry. Two-factor authentication to reach any level of data will be one of the trends. This is not just accessing email but remote logins, hosted websites, etc.”

”This trend is going to require every employee to take an additional step for security but will provide a greater level of security and protection for the business”, added Nelson. 

Trend 3: Collaboration in the Modern Workforce

The nature of work is constantly changing, multiple teams are collaborating in the modern workforce, and the applications we use are evolving by the day. Workplaces will become collaborations that serve as a space to brainstorm, host meetings, and work on projects. Workers will need spaces designed for specific purposes, including conference rooms with video conferencing systems. 

”It will become supercritical for companies to leverage technology to enable easier collaboration across their employee base, so the next trend will be more tech-centric, however, driven by employees and teams”, said Singhal. 

What Should Organizations Do to Keep Up with the Workplace Trends?

To keep up with these changes, business leaders must rise to the occasion and show a thorough understanding of the latest workplace trends. What steps can businesses and organizations do to ensure they do not fall behind in 2022? 

”Invest in more technology but also ensure it is leveraged in the right fashion. Additionally, we need to enable routines like quick 15-min team standups over video conferences that will bring in more human components with trust and collaboration amongst teams.”    

-Ashu Singhal, President, Orion Networks 

 ”Implement 2FA/MFA anywhere it’s possible.”

–Michael Nelson, President and Founder, TLC Tech

Businesses and organizations face new trends every year that disrupt the way they operate. The presence of the COVID-19 pandemic introduced new disruptions and accelerated those disruptions as the months passed by. Nearly every aspect of a business or organization is prone to some changes, and this includes the workplace. This is why it is so important to highlight workplace trends. Highlighting workplace trends allows businesses and organizations to stay on top of the changes, including employee perception.

These workplace trends lean towards the evolving employee and workforce landscape and acknowledge that there are lines being drawn between personal and professional lives. What other changes do you anticipate as these trends evolve in the coming years?  How do you think this new age of the employee will play out in the areas that are dominating the workforce in 2022?