The chain of reactions set in motion in 2021 will spill over into 2022. We\u2019ve learned to expect and adapt to changes as they occur, and now, professionals across every industry are hungry for better tools and spaces that support agility, empower the individual and provide an equitable experience. These trends will shape the world of work in the coming year and will be natural extensions of the pandemic-induced changes already in motion.<\/p>\n
To prepare for the demands of the coming year, we called upon the insights of four Poly experts from across the world: Carl Wiese, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Poly worldwide; David Danto, Director of UC Strategy and Research for North America; Pierre-Jean Ch\u00e2lon, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific; and Paul Clark, Senior Vice President for EMEA.<\/p>\n
The pandemic may have expedited the shift to hybrid and remote work, but success within this work model heralded a new expectation. Clark explains: \u201cWorkers who relish the perks of hybrid and flexible working have no desire to return to corporate life full time. Poly research<\/a> found<\/a><\/span> 80% of Europe and the Middle East employees prefer to spend some days working from home. With the economy picking up, professionals want more power to choose how they work and where.\u201d Work is now what<\/em> you do, not where<\/em> you do it.<\/p>\n \u201cOne key aspect of hybrid working is allowing the employee to be the judge of where they need to be at any given time,\u201d said Danto. To reinforce this point, Clark asserts, \u201cChoice is a leveler and a catalyst for easy, meaningful and productive collaboration. It presents a great opportunity for HR, IT, facilities management and the wider business to be more attuned to what employees want from their experience of work.\u201d He continues, \u201cRather than being an asset that requires managing, employees have adopted a customer persona; they know what they want, why, when and how\u2014and they\u2019ll tell you. Ignore them and they\u2019ll go elsewhere!\u201d<\/p>\n As we look toward 2022, a trend called the \u201cthe great resignation\u201d is sweeping the workforce. Swaths of professionals are walking out the door in favor of better opportunities. \u201cResearch shows<\/a><\/span> that over 40% of workers would actively look elsewhere if their employers fail to offer hybrid working,\u201d said Clark. The demand for flexible work is clear and businesses need to shift quickly to accommodate these new expectations if they hope to attract and retain talent. This not only entails adapting traditional work models but getting ahead of the work-from-home challenges we have all become familiar with, including video fatigue, isolation and the struggle with work\/life balance. Wiese predicts, \u201cCompanies that go the extra mile to offer workspaces and technology that foster a sense of wellness and belonging \u2013 both in the office and at home \u2013 will have an advantage when attracting and retaining top performers.\u201d<\/p>\n Ch\u00e2lon explains how this shift is already impacting the job market: \u201cIt\u2019s led to an increasing number of job openings listing remote work as a key requirement. In 2020, about a third of job vacancies<\/a><\/span> involved work that could be done remotely, largely for PMET roles. Plus, more job seekers in Asia Pacific are searching remote-first roles<\/span><\/a> due to health fear associated with working in-office.\u201d\u00a0While the early days of the pandemic are behind us, health and safety continue to be a top concern as the landscape changes\u2014especially for job seekers. We can anticipate this will remain true in the new year.<\/p>\n As professionals take control of when they are in the office and why, fewer people will be in the office regularly and will use the space differently, encouraging businesses to restructure their offices. \u201cOffices will no longer be physical spaces with defined, individual spots,\u201d said Clark. \u201cFuture workplaces will be ecosystems of spaces and rooms that match the working habits or needs of different personas.\u201d In agreement, Ch\u00e2lon explains, \u201cThe office becomes a collaboration hub, serving as a place for teams to brainstorm in small groups, host client meetings, celebrate milestones and work on joint projects. Professionals will need spaces dedicated to specific purposes, including hot-desking, conference rooms with easy-to-use video conferencing systems, and better cameras and monitors for desktop video meetings.\u201d<\/p>\nTrend 2: The Office as Collaboration Hub <\/strong><\/h4>\n