The biggest workplace trends to watch in 2024

The world of work is subject to constant changes and developments. As new trends arise that shape the workplace, fundamental concepts that once defined the way we work are suddenly replaced.

Changes are not only triggered by new technologies, but also by societal changes that have an impact on how we evaluate existing working practices. As society changes, so does the workplace.

What trends will have an impact on the way we work in 2024? What changes and developments are expected to take place in the world of work next year? Here are the biggest workplace trends to watch in 2024.

As the effects of climate change become increasingly tangible and the voices demanding more sustainability grow louder, there is an increasing need for organizations to adopt sustainable business practices.

Sustainability in the workplace encompasses a wide variety of practices, from reducing waste to implementing circular processes. In order to make their processes more sustainable, businesses first need to understand how their actions impact the environment and identify possible areas for improvement.

In the war for talent, creating a positive experience for employees has become a top priority for businesses. In 2024, employee experience initiatives are expected to gain even more in importance as employers struggle to attract and retain talented workers.

Improving employee wellness and adjusting work schedules to provide for a better work-life balance are just two of the strategies that are trending among employers. A broader adoption of the four-day workweek could also be on the horizon for 2024.

Making hiring and recruiting practices more diverse and inclusive has been identified as one of the key HR trends for 2024. But it’s not just in the HR department that diversity and inclusion are gaining in importance.

For one thing, businesses are becoming more aware of the value they can gain from working with a diverse workforce. For another thing, changing demographics and international migration are changing the traditional composition of the workforce, making more tolerance in the workplace a requirement businesses cannot ignore.

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There is no doubt that current megatrends like generative AI and digitization will also have an impact on the future of work. Digitized processes and the importance of data are already impacting many different areas of our lives, and it will be no different in the workplace.

Digital workplace trends include increasing demands for digital skills among employees and a growing focus on more data-driven work. In a workplace that is driven by data insights, knowing how to use and analyze data is a crucial requirement.

Artificial intelligence and other next-gen technologies are also set to reshuffle traditional workplace practices. Using AI to replace manual processes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs is expected to be a priority for businesses in 2024.

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Remote and hybrid work have been on the rise since 2020. While flexible working arrangements continue to be popular with employees, 2024 could be the year that sees large parts of the workforce return to the office.

A survey conducted by Resume Builder revealed that 90% of companies intend to return to the office by the end of 2024 to improve revenue. And although a return to the traditional full-5-day-in-the-office workweek is unlikely, it might well be that employees will be required to be physically present in the office on several days in the week.

How the plans for a broad return to the office will align with talent retention strategies is still unclear. Seeing that 90% of employees declare themselves unwilling to return to the office full time, businesses will have to find a way of putting their intentions into practice without losing their best workers and becoming unattractive for potential new joiners.

Lifelong learning, upskilling, and reskilling are expected to be among the major trends in the workplace in 2024. The pace with which changes take place in today’s world of work requires employees to constantly develop their skills to keep up. For businesses, this means creating new ways and opportunities for their employees to keep learning.

Creating new and exciting learning opportunities can help with employee retention, but is also important for succession planning to ensure that future leadership positions will be filled with qualified professionals who are familiar with the company.

Burnout and mental health issues have been on the rise for the past couple of years and will continue to be an important issue for businesses in 2024. With forecasts predicting a possible 40% increase in employee burnout next year, mental health initiatives are likely to shift into the focus of companies.

Mental health programs can take different forms, ranging from mindfulness sessions to mental health days employees can use as they see fit. To ensure that their workers will be able to keep up their performance, businesses should start implementing mental health benefits early.

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