7 workplace trends for 2020

Technology is getting smarter and changing ways of working continue to influence the organization of the workplace. The modern workplace is constantly changing.

At the start of the new year, we compiled an overview of workplace trends for 2020. These trends show how to create a work environment that is tailored to the needs of the modern employee.

Trend #1 The importance of a healthy workplace

A good workplace environment increases employee happiness, morale, and motivation. A healthy workplace is critical to the success of your company. In fact, when the work environment is good, employees become highly engaged and deliver in return:

• 21% higher profitability
• 17% higher productivity
• 10% higher customer reviews

Half of Millennials and 75% of Gen Zs quit their jobs due to mental health concerns. As a result, more and more companies (Google, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs) are hiring therapists and creating health centers to support employees (Sources: Finances Online, Dan Schawbel).

Trend #2 Remote work is the new keyword

Recent research shows that 70 percent of professionals now work remotely at least one day a week and 53 percent work remotely for at least half of the week. This means that companies must adapt their office space accordingly to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of their employees (Source: Ambius).

Trend #3 The emphasis between work and personal life

While 75 percent of full-time employees worldwide say they have enough time to complete their important tasks, nearly two out of five (37 percent) work more than 40 hours each week. In addition, 71 percent claim that work interferes with their personal life. The modern employee is now looking for a better work-life balance and benefits that have a positive impact on their well-being (Sources: Workplace Trends and Finances Online).

Trend #4 Social purpose becomes a priority

To successfully attract and retain young staff, companies must make a social goal a priority. The younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) are driving this social trend (Sources: Finances Online and Kronos).

The Gen Z wants to work for companies that do meaningful work. This desire for meaning outweighs financial benefits or flexibility in work.

Trend #5 Technology and AI

We are at the beginning of what is called Industry 4.0. A new way of creating value that disrupts business models, products, divisions, processes, and methods. Artificial intelligence is accelerating this trend by making collaborative processes much more efficient. Virtual assistants can book locations, sync calendars, take notes, assign actions, and set up follow-up meetings — making it easier for individuals to connect and work as teams, and enable higher productivity (Sources: Deloitte and NTT).

Trend # 6 The growing attention for agile ways of working

Around 70% of organizations say that one of the tangible benefits of their digital strategy is to shape new ways of working through organizational transformation. Work will increasingly be “What we do” instead of “A place we go”. Mobility is becoming increasingly important and this will also be evident from the use of the workspace. It's important to study your space usage to see how you can improve the workspace (Sources: NTT and Lanico).

Trend #7 Sustainability

In an HP study, they found that 61% of people believe sustainability is mandatory, 58% said environmentally conscious practices are critical to attracting future employees, and 46% would only work for sustainable companies. Sustainability is really becoming a topic, and this time it's also being driven by the staff (source: HP).

At Akoesta, we always want to be up to date with trends and innovations. As a result, we can better help you with our customized solutions in the field of acoustics. With our solutions, we contribute to a healthy and comfortable workplace. And that makes for happy spaces!

Want to know more about happy spaces? Then take contact join us!