Still reeling from the effects of the Great Resignation, the workforce landscape has yet to settle. Compounded by an uncertain economic outlook and louder calls for a more positive employee experience, smart organizations are rethinking their labor policies and considering ways to restructure their workforce to stay productive and generate profits.
Let’s explore rising workforce trends and the most effective strategies to stay ahead.
Healing pandemic trauma to boost productivity
While the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has receded, societal, economic, and emotional turbulence remain a reality, resulting in overall negative emotions in the workplace. In 2022, 48% of U.S. employees felt stressed on the job, and over 70% of those surveyed believed their organization did not care about their well-being, according to research by Gallup .
Companies are taking note of these concerns, seeking to better support their employees via employee-centric initiatives such as proactive rest and schedule flexibility. These recovery strategies, which encourage workers to stop and recharge guilt-free, have proven effective in significantly reducing employee burnout while enhancing performance and productivity.
With this focus on healing, businesses are also creating open forums and inviting employees to raise concerns and voice their opinions. Such discussions, held without consequence or judgment, provide reliable insight into employee experiences and pinpoint areas where improvement is needed.
Further, more managers are being trained in trauma counseling and conflict resolution. Not only does this training assist them in navigating difficult conversations with employees, but it helps decrease employee stress for a more enjoyable work environment.
Restructuring the workforce
The Great Resignation was an eye-opening experience for a vast number of organizations. Paired with economic uncertainty, it has turned the workforce status quo on its head. Many organizations are abandoning traditional staffing models to commit to the “new normal” of remote workers and hybrid flexibility.
Frontline workers, like those in healthcare and manufacturing, have realized there are different types of work available to them — many with much more flexibility than they are accustomed to. They are leveraging these opportunities to have conversations with their employers about job satisfaction, stability, and retention.
Moreover, with the advancements in collaborative technology, there is a significant rise in part-time and temporary hires — otherwise known as contingent workers. This workforce boosts productivity to meet growing market demands while helping companies scale effectively, reduce risks, and manage costs.
To encourage contingent workers to join their organizations, businesses are turning to employers of record (EORs) that handle more than just payroll. Certain EORs provide complete HR solutions, including but not limited to:
- Handling all expenses — from personnel to insurance
- Managing benefit, retirement, and worker compensation plans
- Tracking personal and sick leave
- Ensuring compliance with local employment law
Hiring nontraditional candidates
The phenomenon of “quiet quitting ,” defined as employees who do the minimum required in their role in order to retain employment without going above and beyond for their employer, has dominated work-related headlines over the past year. While these disengaged employees may not physically leave their positions, their impact is still felt because most jobs today require some level of extra effort to meet customer demands and establish strong relationships with co-workers and management.
Moreover, as many employee career paths continue on nonlinear trajectories, with roles and responsibilities blending into one another, employers face the challenge of pinpointing suitable people to fit ever-evolving positions. Many companies are seeking to diversify and expand their talent pipelines to bring in fresh, albeit nontraditional, candidates.
But to do this successfully, employers must be comfortable assessing and evaluating candidates differently than they have in the past — in some cases, removing prerequisites like formal education and specific experience requirements from job postings. As many employers struggle with taking such a nontraditional approach to attracting talent, they are increasingly partnering with staffing and executive hiring firms that have access to a wide pool of promising candidates.
An experienced staffing partner helps guide their clients through the end-to-end hiring process, alleviating their burden by providing robust talent acquisition solutions — from screening candidates against organizational requirements and running background checks to negotiating contracts and wages on the employer’s behalf. Not only does outsourcing connect organizations with quality talent, but it also helps reduce the strain on their HR team — saving time, money, and energy.
Stay on trend with Maslow Media
As the global workforce model continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that businesses stay on top of trends to keep their competitive edge.
Established in 1988, Maslow Media Group strives to be a single resource for its clients, providing qualified talent while offering comprehensive EOR, executive recruiting, and HR management services. With a team of over 1,800 talented individuals nationwide, Maslow Media is the name in workforce management solutions.
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