The workplace as we know it has forever changed as the world was shackled by the newly pandemic-induced demands and challenges. A typical workplace has needed a solid reformation for a while now, considering how it is still seemingly easy to encounter the remnants of the industrial work culture. The pandemic comes as the final nail in the coffin to this line of reasoning. Undoubtedly, this led to a resounding ‘YES’ to the necessary changes. So, what are some of the notable changes to expect in 2022?

Proactive HR

Usually, when people think about a typical HR department, they think of making reports and following tedious statistics. However, in 2022, this is no longer the case. The same methods are indeed used but in a far more productive way. Thanks to the new flexible methodologies being developed such as the one used by Juggle Strategies, better solutions are here. Soft skills have allowed the use of statistics and marketing reports to actually define fresh strategies and solutions in the onslaught of new challenges. These soft skills range from improving analytical thinking, defining a perfect employee, and attracting these candidates to also including greater diversity while offering equality for everyone.

Focus on the employee

With the rise of additional thoughtfulness that goes into offering a high-quality experience for the customers with the new UX principles, there is a parallel change that is meant for employees as well. This new workplace principle is titled EX, which stands for employee experience. EX was formerly regarded as somewhat of a gimmick and not a true integral part of good HR practices. However, new challenges have called for providing better and easier working conditions for the employees. EX changes are seen in things such as offering a more precise and straightforward job application experience, high-quality assessment during interviews with constructive feedback, and also clearer onboarding and teamwork protocols.

Addressing mental and physical health

Attention to detail is something that is heavily enforced when it comes to making important decisions when trying to make a profit but rarely is this the case when addressing the well-being of employees. These little but all the more important changes are being introduced to make a safer and more sustainable environment for the employees. This can include things such as investing in good desks and ergonomic chairs, good lighting, noise reduction, and also offering and maintaining a clean and hygienic workplace. This is especially easy to implement considering the new research on optimizing the workspace which shows how to improve focus and creativity during work as well as optimizing for different types of tasks. Not every office is good for making people productive because, in order to increase alertness and focus, the room has to be as brightly lit as safely possible in order to be optimal. In addition, things such as standing desks are a surefire way to improve the overall health and productivity of an employee.

Frequent follow-ups

Implementing new changes can be quite stressful and, in the end, inefficient if no proper follow-ups are made. Each workplace novelty should be checked and refined. These checks should happen before and after each new implementation. A good change should feel seamless and cause minimal frustration for the employees. That is why it is a great idea to have follow-ups after the implementation as well in order to make sure that everyone is on board, especially in a team environment. No one should have to resort to old, less productive ways of working. Offering a reassuring attitude all throughout the implementation is key for making long-lasting changes.

A personalized approach

It is frequently the case that employees work in teams because work is easier that way. However, it is crucial to keep the worker as an individual in mind as well. This is possible through personalized training, where everyone is individually assessed and given a chance to improve their skills that they might lack or want to enhance. One-size-fits-all is never a great idea when talking about making the employees happy, simply because someone is guaranteed to be improperly assessed.

With the challenging new demands ahead, it is crucial to keep the workplace running smoothly and optimally. Luckily, there are great new methods and practices put into place for improving how people work. This includes a more proactive HR department with a greater focus on the employee, a healthier environment, and frequent follow-ups along with personalized employee experiences.