Remote work has changed pretty much since the pandemic came and flipped our work lives. Although there are still people who prefer being in the office while working, the amount of those who prefer the remote type of work continues growing, and as of today, around 98% of people would like to work remotely from time to time and 91% of them confirm that remote work was a positive experience for them.
As remote work continues evolving, it is good to keep informed and adapt to changes. So, what are the trends that already exist, and which ones will just start to grow? Let’s find out!
Trend 1: Hybrid Work Models
A hybrid work model is a model that allows employees to work from home but also be able to go to the office and have a real-time in-person collaboration. The benefits of such an approach are improved productivity, better well-being thanks to an improved working schedule, and overall employee satisfaction.
Steps to Implement Hybrid Work
Setting up a hybrid work model requires understanding its dynamics, how it can benefit or impact your workflow, and how to adapt it to your specific company needs. Here are the common steps businesses take to implement a hybrid work model.
- Make clear expectations and guidelines. Make sure to communicate the hours when employees should be in the office and when they can work remotely.
- Implement collaboration tools. The most common apps to use are Slack, Microsoft Teams, Notion, Trello, and Asana – these tools are useful for online communication, keeping track of the tasks once employees work remotely, and in general being productive.
- Have regular in-person meetings. Sometimes, when working remotely, people might feel left out, so, it is a good practice to have team-building activities together, thus, creating a more relaxed and healthy environment.
Here are some bonus pieces of advice:
- Think of implementing a flexible schedule. Different people are productive during different parts of the day, thus, allowing them to make their own schedule while working remotely, will help them feel more productive.
- Provide necessary technology and support. In case, you know your employees do not have suitable devices to work on, it is good to provide them with the necessary equipment. It will not only boost your workers’ productivity but also show that you care for them, which, in turn, may improve their well-being.
Trend 2: Advanced HR Technology and AI Integration
The next trend to look at is connected with the development of AI over the past years. Many fields now adopt AI technologies, including HR as AI helps to streamline the hiring process, which allows HR to get more accurate results. Additionally, AI can handle repetitive tasks that help employees focus on more important and those requiring human touch tasks.
Different types of HR software and processes already have AI in them, so, let’s talk about them.
- AI-driven recruitment platforms. For example, JobConvo uses AI to screen resumes better and faster, conduct initial interviews with candidates, and even assess candidates’ fit based on predictive analysis.
- Automated onboarding systems. Some tools use AI to automate the onboarding process which includes providing new hires with digital welcome packages, as well as tracking their integration progress.
- Performance management software. JobConvo produces such functions as automating performance reviews, setting goals, and providing feedback to employees which often take a lot of time when done manually.
Trend 3: Focus on Employee Well-Being and Mental Health
Even with all the benefits of remote work, there are still a few drawbacks that employers should consider while implementing this work model. One of them is how it affects well-being and mental health with the most common issue being isolation due to a lack of face-to-face communication.
Around 84% of employees faced at least one mental health challenge over the past year, which included burnout and stress. Considering this, companies should take steps to support their employees’ mental health.
5 Examples of Successful Mental Health Initiatives
Since the start of the pandemic, many companies worked on improving the workflow of remote teams which also means considering mental health. Many companies implement options like flexible work hours that help employees manage their time in the way they feel comfortable based on their productivity level. Additional practices include mental checkups and counseling services to help manage mental health and possible burn-outs effectively.
- Virtual counseling services. Companies like Starbucks offer virtual therapy sessions to support their employees’ mental health.
- Wellness apps and platforms. It is a good practice to use tools like Calm and Headspace that provide workers with resources for meditation, stress management, and mindfulness practices.
- Regular mental health check-ins. You can implement such practice and scheduling check-ins with your employees to discuss their mental well-being and provide support if needed.
- Flexible work hours. As we have already mentioned, it is good to let your employees have flexible schedules once they work remotely as it will help them manage their day better, work when they feel the most comfortable, and be overall productive.
- Employee assistance programs (EAPs). These programs offer confidential counseling and support services for those workers who have personal or professional challenges and need help dealing with them.
Trend 4: Global Talent Acquisition
With the rise of remote work, companies now have access to a wider talent pool and can hire from virtually anywhere in the world. This shift offers significant benefits for those seeking specific skills and experiences that may not be available locally. For example, many companies shift to having a freelance party alongside the in-house team. This way they can cover lacking skills and experiences or enjoy the benefits of a diverse talent pool without being restricted by geographical limitations.
Challenges and Solutions in Managing a Global Workforce
With a greater talent pool come challenges that also need to be addressed. It includes dealing with different time zones, language barriers, and cultural differences. However, each of these factors can be worked out if put in time and effort.
- Time zone management. Use Teleport Sundial or Timezone.io to keep track of your employees’ working hours, even in different time zones.
- Lack of communication. Use Slack or Microsoft Teams if you need seamless communication through video and chats, as well as being able to integrate other apps for better collaboration.
- Cultural differences. Use training programs to educate employees about cultural differences and promote inclusive communication.
Trend 5: Data-Driven HR Decision-Making
Data-driven decision-making is another trend that helps HR to improve their work by making decisions based on the provided data, optimizing processes, and even predicting future trends.
Tools for Collecting and Analyzing HR Data
The data-driven trend is a pretty useful option for HR managers due to the many advantages they offer. For instance, these tools gather employees’ feedback on the work or help to assess candidate skills to be sure HR managers get the perfect match. This way, they can make the work of the employees smoother, and more efficient, and be able to predict turnover trends and work with it.
- HR analytics platforms. They track key metrics such as turnover rates and engagement scores.
- Employee engagement apps. Tools like this analyze employee feedback to give better insights.
- Learning management systems. These tools assess the training effectiveness of the employees and identify their skill gaps.
Trend 6: Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures
The shift to remote work has increased cybersecurity risks since remote employees mostly use personal devices to work. In 2023, 72% of companies believed that remote employees are at far greater risk of having cybersecurity issues compared to onsite workers, which include phishing attacks and data breaches.
The most common strategies to implement cybersecurity include multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional security level during the verification process, using virtual private networks (VPN) that encrypt connections, making it secure while the employee accesses the company’s servers. In addition to this, endpoint security solutions such as antivirus or anti-malware tools on the devices that access the company’s information.
Trend 7: Continuous Learning and Upskilling
While the world changes every day, it is important for employees to keep up with it and always learn new valuable skills and for companies to retain talent – to provide ways to learn. Almost 94% of workers would stay longer if the company invested in their career development.
The most popular ways for companies to upgrade their employee’s skills are to use learning platforms (Coursera is expected to reach $457,8 billion by 2026, while LinkedIn’s learning programs contribute to 77% of the companies worldwide) or do regular skills assessments (which are often go together with LMS and e-learning platforms).
- Online learning platforms (Coursera and LinkedIn Learning).
- Learning management systems (Cornerstone and SAP SuccessFactors).
- Mentorship programs.
- Regular skills assessments.
Strategies to Implement These Changes Smoothly
To successfully adopt these trends in your remote work and HR management, you should have a clear plan: start by conducting a thorough assessment of your current processes and identifying areas for improvement; engage stakeholders from different departments to deliver diverse perspectives.
Once you have collected all the needed info, start by creating a phased implementation plan with specific milestones and measurable goals you want to achieve regularly review progress, and make adjustments as needed to keep everything on track.
To sum up, the future of HR has changed a lot over the past few years and now the main focus is on hybrid work, focus on the well-being of employees, the ability to have a wider talent pool than before and focus on security. If the company decides to implement these trends it should have a clear vision of what exactly they want to do, how it should be done, and what results they are seeking to achieve.
HR managers should stay proactive in terms of adopting new technologies and trends to remain competitive and be sure they help the company grow. By using the right tools and technologies, they can create a dynamic, efficient, and resilient workforce ready for future challenges.
