2Flexible Workplaces: A Priority for Millennials and GenZ
Research from Global Workplace Analytics shows that over 80% of the US workforce would like to telecommute. A major factor driving this shift is the growing number of social technologies that enable collaboration in virtual settings. Add in the fact that the first generation of digital natives is maturing in the workforce and it makes sense why workers are looking for a change in where they can get their work done.
A survey from Queens University of Charlotte found that 49% of millennials support the use of social tools to boost workplace collaboration. Gen X’ers weren’t too far behind at 40%. Additionally, 40% of the millennials surveyed said they would even pay out of pocket for social tools if they improved efficiency. Past perceptions of virtual workers included concerns about laziness and assumed that people wanted to work from home because it was easier to work less. The data would indicate otherwise, as most millennials believe that enabling work away from the office makes them more efficient.
3AI will make us more efficient employees
Fears about Artificial Intelligence and automation are becoming the norm in the workforce, with doomsday predictions about AI completely replacing the human workforce. While the way we work may need to be rewritten down the road, for the time being it would seem that AI might actually help individuals become more effective and defend the value of human output.
A major hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, is actively using AI solutions to help increase the productivity of its employees. Rating systems, data analysis, and recorded meetings all help create a data-driven map for decision making. So much so that the firm is considering handing key management tasks over to machines. Again this information might cause concern for managers, but Devin Fidler of the Institute for the Future explains that AI “needs human decision making to set objectives.”
CONCLUSION
The key for organizations will be to honestly assess whether or not current practices can keep up with global trends. If not they will need to consider what solutions are consistent with their mission and vision, and implement them with conviction.
As the above trends gain steam in 2017, employees will be looking for companies that provide the kind of workplace they want to work in; investors will be evaluating how effective companies are compared to their expenses.
The good news is, these solutions will help companies remain competitive in the global economy both when it comes to acquiring talent and securing investments and new customers.
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