There’s no shortage of global HR trends for 2022. While some have the potential to fizzle out as the year drags on, others will grab hold and shape the way people work for years to come.
As an HR professional, it’s critical to hire and lead from a growth mindset. This ensures that the decisions you make today will have a positive impact on your company in the future.
Every year, our employee expectations report dives into the finer details of what employees are looking for in an employer. Rhys Black, Oyster’s Head of Workplace Design, shared his thoughts on the report:
“This report reveals expectations from knowledge workers today and uncovers what they truly want from their places of work, their jobs, and their managers. Armed with this information, People Ops professionals will be equipped to elevate their employee experience at a time where competition for talent is especially high. The findings in this report have major implications for growing businesses looking to attract and retain the best and brightest employees, now and in the future.”
Now that we’ve talked about the basics of global hiring trends, let’s dive into three trends that are shaping 2022.
1. The pandemic effect still exists
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, workers still understand the difference between the “old normal” and “new normal.” Gone are the days of everyone working in the same office, traveling an excessive amount, and putting their career above everything else in their life.
More employees than ever got a taste of remote and distributed work during the pandemic. And since the majority of them enjoy working in this manner, it’s a trend that’s here to stay.
Today’s employees are seeking a cultural shift in the workplace. For example, 68 percent of survey respondents said there was a greater need for supportive managers. This number shows just how much people want to lean on their managers for help.
2. Work-life balance is a must
An anonymous respondent to our report had this to say about culture and work-life balance:
“COVID has taught me that the culture of the company matters a lot. I value a company that listens to its employees and does what is right for them.”
Employees are more interested in work-life balance and flexibility than they are in perks and career development. They want to be able to enjoy a life outside of the office.
In fact, “61 percent of our survey respondents told us that work-life balance was their most important company factor—eclipsing all other factors by a wide margin.”
The ideal company in 2022 provides an environment that allows for a healthy work-life balance, and it’s not likely that this will change in the years to come.
3. Remote work remains popular
In regard to remote work, there are two important takeaways from our survey:
- 86% told us that remote/distributed working had become more important since the pandemic.
- 41% of knowledge workers told us that remote or distributed working was one of the top things they look for in a job.
Here’s another quote from an anonymous respondent:
“I never would have considered working from home even one day before the pandemic but now I want the freedom to work wherever I choose, whether that be office, home or even abroad.”
This goes along with the two trends above. The pandemic helped people see that remote work is possible, and with that, more people are seeking the work-life balance that was once only a dream.
Other key remote work statistics from our employee expectations report include:
- 72% of respondents say they work remotely at least part of the time.
- 59% expect the ability to work from anywhere.
- 44% say remote working was one of their top 3 factors when it came to their ideal company.
Summary
These emerging HR trends of 2022 have staying power. You can expect these trends to carry over to next year and beyond.
If you want to make the most of these global HR trends, we have you covered. With Oyster, you can provide a top-notch experience to every employee, regardless of location, responsibilities, or needs.
Remember, when you take care of your team your team will take care of you!
