Top 5 HR Trends Facing Small Businesses, Part 1

To say things have changed in the workplace in the last 18 months would be an understatement. It’s not a matter of whether it was good or bad, change is inevitable. The companies that first understand this, and adapt to the changing environment, will stay or become successful, and create a stronger level of sustainability.

It may be time to truly review your workplace according to the trends that are occurring around us, and look to ways you can adapt and evolve to become more innovative, more responsive, and more successful when it comes to your effectiveness as an employer.

We’re always watching the workplace and HR trends, especially as it affects small business, and have come up with the top 5 trends that will shape the future workplace. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but we think these are the “big 5”.

Workplace Flexibility and Remote work

Many large businesses that had shifted to remote work during the height of the Covid pandemic, have begun to request their employees now report to the workplace. For good reason, nothing beats in-person interaction, collaboration, and productivity.

However, the trend and the technology are now pushing in the direction of remote work. Employees have had a taste of working from home, working part-time, or even being home on unemployment for months at a time. This may make it difficult to fully transition your business.

For many businesses, remote work is impossible. The most innovative companies will allow remote work, or a hybrid of occasional remote work and more worker flexibility so employees can manage their personal lives.

Mental Health and Physical Wellness

As employees deal with more pressure than ever before—from navigating health issues, juggling caregiving, to navigating work and financial issues; maintaining mental and physical health will be a growing challenge. Employers will need to consider this and commit to getting in tune with their employees and providing the health resources they need – including time off to seek help, access to healthcare, and empathy from management.

Create a culture of engagement where managers are able to demonstrate and model healthy behavior themselves. Consider training your managers to spot mental health “red flags”, and to seek the proper guidance from upper management or HR when necessary.

Successful companies will create a flexible working environment so employees can take time off when needed to improve their mental and physical health. Review your company hours, paid time off policies, and considering balancing production requirements and time-off flexibility.