With new technologies changing the way people work, and a significant portion of the workforce on the cusp of retirement, we're starting to see shifts in the workplace landscape, according to Bernadette Kenny, Executive Vice President of global career management services company Lee Hecht Harrison.
Kenny cited five workplace trends she expects to gain momentum in the year ahead:
LONG DISTANCE LEADERSHIP - Thanks to continual advances in technology, more people are working on the road or telecommuting at least some of the time. Because it is possible to do business almost anywhere with the aide of a laptop, BlackBerry, cell phone, etc., managers must adopt new techniques to lead effectively at a distance.
FLEXIBLE RETIREMENT - Baby Boomers, who represent one third of the U.S. population, are coming to the realization that traditional retirement may not be something they want and/or can afford. At the same time, Corporate America is coming to grips with the impending talent and institutional memory drain that will occur if large numbers of Boomers retire. As a result, both employers and employees are increasingly open to the idea of flexible retirement. Some companies are already restructuring jobs and adapting their pension policies to entice 65+ employees to stay on part-time or as consultants.
EMAIL BACKLASH - Corporate reliance on email isn't going away, but in an age of overflowing inboxes, there's a growing backlash against unclear, error- riddled and unnecessary email communications. Employees at all levels -- as well as those looking for jobs -- will be expected to pay closer attention not only to how they compose their thoughts, but also with whom they share them. Correct spelling and appropriate grammar will be paramount, as will judgment about requisite recipients.
"USE IT OR LOSE IT" VACATION - Since most states require companies to carry unused employee vacation time on their books as a liability, more companies are forbidding employees to bank vacation days in the wake of Sarbanes-Oxley. While a number of states have laws that bar "use it or lose it" vacation provisions, in those that don't, they are becoming increasingly popular. HR managers cite not only concerns about fiscal management, but also the need to encourage employees to take their time off.
TALENT CHURN - As the economy improves, employees who have stayed in jobs they were unhappy with because they had nowhere else to go will pursue new opportunities. On the other hand, readily available capital is already fueling a new merger and acquisition boom. Mergers inevitably create redundancies and force employees, who may not have wished to leave, into the marketplace.
With over 200 offices in 36 countries, Lee Hecht Harrison is the global performance leader in career and leadership consulting.
For more information about the company please visit http://www.LHH.com.
Source: Lee Hecht Harrison
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