Top Workplace Trends for 2012
Efficient, Effective and Resource-sharing
by Mona Metzger
Changes that could be coming to your workplace this year:
1. BYOD.
Bring your own device. Employees are using their own iPhone, iPads, and other portable electronics for work instead of company-issued computers or laptops. What will this do for employer security?
2. Telecommuting
Companies are offering telecommuting as a way to give employees more flexible schedules and in some cases make up for not offering bigger raises, but also to curb office space expenses.
3. Open Office Spaces
With fewer employees coming into the office, companies are reconfiguring floor plans to devote more square footage to communal areas impromptu brainstorming or conference sessions and less to traditional, walled work spaces.
4. Instant Communication
Employees increasingly view email as an inefficient form of communication that moves at a snail's pace compared to text messages, social networks and other alternatives.
5. Online Collaboration
More companies are using web-based software, rather than email, to communicate with telecommuters and mobile workers. Video- and web-based conferencing is here to stay too, workplace experts say. Employees need to know how to use it all, regardless of where they work.
6. The Cloud
Employers are following consumers by using more web-based or "cloud" computing, including not just collaboration tools but also other web-based software in day-to-day operations.
7. Reverse Mentoring
Businesses are establishing reverse mentoring arrangements where younger workers do the teaching, helping older workers master software, social media and other modern workplace skills.
8. Independent Contractor
t's the age of the free agent, and not just in sports. More people are working as independent contractors, not because they can't find permanent full-time corporate positions but because they want to. See Open Desks.
9. Co-Working Spaces
Worldwide, the number of co-working spaces is mushrooming. Whether they're independent contractors or full-time employees, more home-based workers are checking out co-working spaces, where they can find a desk for a few hours, often at minimal expense, plus conference rooms, internet connections and other standard office amenities.
Local co-working space available at Caroline Collective.
10. Corporate Culture Shifts
A decent salary and benefits are no longer enough to attract or keep valuable employees. For that, companies are investing in initiatives that speak to the passions and practices of workers of all ages. Those initiatives include going green or producing products in a more socially responsible manner to allowing employees time off to perform community service work.
Source: SecondAct