By Chad Warner
In no time at all, a new year will be upon us. Many entrepreneurs view the start of a new year as an opportunity to reevaluate company goals and to hire new employees to help their businesses grow. Staying up-to-date on emerging workplace trends is crucial in order for a company to stay competitive. Here’s what to expect hiring wise next year.
Hiring trend #1: New workplace demographics
The country’s largest labor force is now comprised of millennials (individuals born between 1981-1996). This group of employees is well-known for its desire for annual raises and career advancement. Once reputed for their job-hopping tendencies, millennials are now projected to stay in their positions for at least six years. Although this group desires long-term stability, patience is not a key trait—so look out, employers. If millennials are not progressing at their current workplace as desired, they are not afraid to jump to a better career opportunity.
But millennials are not the only generation of worker in 2020 workplaces. With the average employee now working for more years, there are now four generations of workers in the workforce. Each generation features its own diverse background, but individuals must work together in collaborative teams. Their conflicting views, expectations, and priorities can present challenges to employers.
Increased globalization also brings in a new pool of talent and cultural diversity. As a result, internal interactions within companies will need to incorporate a broader set of values that includes cultural differences.
Hiring trend #2: “Work-life balance” is replaced by “work-life integration”
Recently sought-after “work-life balance” is being replaced by “work-life integration,” a new term that recognizes that work and life coexist together. Millennials are seeking this integration which will require employers to get more flexible with work perk offerings and employee benefits. Gone are the days when an employer’s wellness program could be simply an on-site gym. Now, workshops, yoga classes, gamification, and more are being provided in new holistic wellness initiatives.
Employees want to be able to customize their benefits packages to their unique needs—and employers are listening. The creation of cafeteria benefit plans enables employers to allocate money to specifically requested benefits that better suit a particular employee.
Other examples of requested work-life integration include unlimited paid time off, the ability to work remotely, non-scheduled work hours, ongoing performance assessments, and professional development opportunities.
Hiring trend #3: Increased flexibility in work locations and work hours
Gone are the days of traditional work hours involving sitting at a desk. Employers who recognize this shift are asking employees about workplace flexibility. Besides having more content employees, flexible work arrangements can provide cost savings, too. When employees are presented with the opportunity to work remotely, employers may no longer need the expense of large office space rentals.
But just because employees may not be working in a traditional office setting, it doesn’t mean they’re not working. In fact, remote workers are known to be both happier and more productive when they get a say in where they spend the majority of their workday.
Work hours are changing, too. Employees want the ability to incorporate their work into their day—around household and family responsibilities. And as long as the work gets done, many 2020 employers are open to this request.
Integrating a learning management system (LMS) has become increasingly important to help employers coordinate their teams of freelance, full-time and remote workers. With the creation of a fair remote-working policy and the implementation of an LMS, increasing the flexibility of work locations and schedules can be a win-win for both employer and employee.
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Hiring trend #4: More incorporation of technology
Similar to recent years, technology will be well integrated into the 2020 workplace. Besides providing workers with the ability to check on work while they’re away from their desks, it will continue providing companies with the ability to offer remote work.
Social media will also play a large role in our workplaces. With the majority of the workforce being comprised of digital-savvy millennials, it will be difficult for a company with a “No Social Media” policy to attract talent. Instead, social media will play a predominant role in the recruitment process itself. It will be widely used in recruitment methods, throughout workplace cultures, and during online training.
More and more employees will start sharing relevant company content on social media networks including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Traditional forms of employee newsletters will be replaced with news on a company’s internal Facebook site or on Slack, an online, instant messaging system.
With the increased integration of social media in the workplace, setting limits around social media usage has become necessary. With the creation of social media policies, employers can outline rules associated with an employee’s online usage.
Hiring trend #5: Popular recruitment methods
Besides affecting how we work and where we work, technology is also determining how we hire in 2020.
The most popular recruitment method used by HR professionals will be online job boards. For offline recruitment, employers will turn to employee referral programs, job fairs, in-person networking events, recruiting agencies, and print publications.
Most interviews will be conducted one-on-one, with the second most popular interview method being over the phone. The increase in remote workers will mean that phone and video interviews will rise in popularity.
Even though technology will play a huge role in the recruitment process in 2020, a human factor is still required to ensure a candidate is a good fit. Viewed as the most important candidate attribute, cultural fit will be determined through a combination of personality and cultural assessments.
The bottom line
With more work-life integration, an increased use of technology, and flexible work arrangements and schedules, 2020 hiring trends are predicted to be unlike any other. To be successful as an employer, having an openness to change and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams will be essential.
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About the Author
Post by: Chad Warner
Chad Warner is a writer who works with CulverCareers, an award-winning national recruiting agency specializing in sales and marketing. Chad specializes in writing about recruiting and human resources. CulverCareers has spent more than 30 years honing their craft, building their networks, and establishing a reputation as a trusted recruitment agency.
Company: CulverCareers
Website: www.culvercareers.com
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