Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen major changes in how people work and where they work. Many of these changes are being driven by a desire for a better work-life balance.
A study by Deloitte found that in 2023, 99% of remote workers reported feeling positive about working from home, citing shorter commutes, increased comfort, better focus, and feeling more connected with loved ones at home.
Another 2023 study, this one from Buffer, revealed that 98% of workers want to work remotely at least some of the time.
As we look ahead to 2024, workers’ preferences for remote or hybrid are expected to remain strong and in fact are predicted to grow even stronger.
According to a survey conducted by The Conference Board, just 4% of U.S. C.E.O.s are prioritizing bringing their teams back to work full-time in a physical office space. Instead, C.E.O.s are focusing on attracting and retaining top talent.
In the coming year, we also expect sustainability and environmental stewardship to becoming increasing important in attracting and retaining top talent.
Community building, technology integrations, and workplace flexibility are poised to impact nearly every aspect of your business in the new year as well.
Read on as we take a deep dive into our top five 2024 workplace predictions and how they’re likely to impact your business in the coming year.
#5: More Tech To Reduce Travel Time & Boost Connection
In 2024, technology is expected to have an outsized impact on business and the workplace. As Steve Sammartino writes in his book “The Great Fragmentation,” in many ways the era of the single, centralized office may be ending.
The internet, VPN technology, higher broadband speeds, ubiquitous wireless Internet networks, and improvements in team collaboration software are making hybrid and remote work more collaborative, productive, and effective.
Advances in team collaboration technology, in particular, can be the difference-maker when it comes to helping your team members feel connected to coworkers and company culture, despite a lack of physical proximity.
Artificial intelligence is also poised to play a significant role in the coming year. Consider using AI to automate routine tasks in your business, improve decision making processes, and gain valuable business insights based on real-world data.
#4: Emphasis on Community Building
While most professionals prefer a hybrid work approach over being fully remote or a fully in-person work arrangement, working remotely does come with its challenges. One of the most challenging aspects of managing a remote or hybrid workforce is that it often leaves team members feeling disconnected from their colleagues and your company culture.
It’s worth noting that engaged employees who feel part of a community typically provide higher levels of service, which impacts client retention, loyalty, and referrals. Engaged employees are also shown to increase profitability by as much as 21%.
In 2024, expect community building to take center stage as companies look to continually find new ways for team members feel connected to a larger community.
If you want to increase employee engagement and build a greater sense of community among your team, consider planning team-building activities outside of work, hosting lunch and learn sessions, and celebrating team members’ group and individual accomplishments.
#3: Sustainability
Also among our top five 2024 workplace predictions is an increased focus on sustainability. Many businesses are embracing environmental stewardship as part of their mission and it’s easy to see why.
While environmental issues impact all generations, younger generations are deeply aware of and invested in addressing climate change. Implementing environmentally-friendly operational strategies can help you stand apart from your competitors and attract Gen Z and Millennial generation talent.
Headquartering your business in a Class A building that is LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) or WELL certified – and outwardly showcasing this – is a great way to signal to current team members and prospective employees that your company cares about the environment.
To boost sustainability in your business, also consider offering remote or hybrid work options to your team members. A study released in 2023 indicates that shifting from fully on-site work to fully remote work can cut emissions by as much as 50%.
You also may want to consider offering incentives to team members who choose to cycle or walk to work as part of your sustainability strategy.
#2: Workspace and Workplace Flexibility
One of the greatest benefits of working from a coworking center such as those provided by Carr Workplaces is flexibility. In today’s work world, most employees seek flexibility and control over their work environments, driven by a desire to do their best work.
Multiple research studies indicate that employee engagement and job satisfaction are positively correlated with workplace satisfaction as well.
Flexible workspaces are designed to accommodate employees and teams with several different workspace options. These options typically include private offices, Dedicated Desks or Touchdown Desks, team suites, or even through virtual office offerings.
When you work from a Carr Workplaces location, your employees can choose the type of workspace that suits their individual needs. In a traditional office space, it would be difficult to provide such a variety of options without incurring significant costs.
An added benefit is that flexible workspace options such as those provided by Carr Workplaces can help you keep your business operating expenses in check.
All Carr Workplaces workspaces (and meeting and conference rooms) may be leased by the day, week, month, year, or longer. This ensures you’re never paying for workspace that isn’t being used.
As a client at one of our coworking centers, you can scale workspaces up and down on an as-needed basis without making a long-term financial commitment.
#1: Hybrid Work Reigns Supreme
Hybrid work is #1 on our list of 2024 workplace predictions for good reason! A report from Forbes Advisor published in 2023 found that 71% of remote workers felt remote work helped improve their work and personal life balance.
“In early 2023, 50%-plus of companies were still sitting on the sidelines with no formal policy or specific work-from-home strategy,” says Rob Sadow, co-founder of Flex Index, a company that tracks employer remote work practices. “What’s happened through 2023 is that more and more companies decided to put a stake in the ground – and that’s hybrid.”
We believe that one of the most cost-effective ways to implement hybrid work options with your team in 2024 is to work with a coworking provider, such as Carr Workplaces.
Our private offices, team spaces, Dedicated Desks, and Touchdown Desks may be booked by the day, week, month, or for longer periods of time.
Hybrid work arrangements provide team members with the in-person collaboration time needed for project-based work and community-building, while giving them the work/life balance provided by working from home part-time.
To schedule a free tour of a Carr Workplaces coworking center near you, visit https://carrworkplaces.com/contact/ or give us a call at (866) 982-5840.
Explore “5 Ways Coworking Centers Support A Healthy Work-Life Balance.”
