Recent Trends in Workplace Change (HL IB Business Management)

• Both internal and external factors have contributed to a range of developments in the working arrangements adopted by businesses around the world
  • External factors include the desire amongst workers to achieve a better work-life balance and rapid technological developments
  • Internal factors differ from business to business and may include changes in organisational structure, business objectives and attitude to meeting stakeholders' needs 

Recent changes in the working environment

• For many years, employees were locked into a system of working from the office for the hours of 9-5
• Recently, a number of factors have changed the working patterns of many employees
   

Reasons for Changes in Working Patterns

New Trend	Explanation
Remote, Hybrid and Flexible Working	During the Covid pandemic many organisations moved to remote work setups to ensure business continuity and the safety of employees Employees worked from home and many continue to do so   Flexible work arrangements including flextime and compressed workweeks (completing hours in 4 days instead of 5) have also become more common Employees have greater control over their schedules   Many companies have adopted hybrid work models Employees work remotely for a portion of the week and come into the office for team meetings or collaborative projects
Gig Economy and Freelancing	More individuals are opting for freelance or contract work Digital platforms have made it easier for people to find freelance opportunities and connect with clients Workers have flexibility and autonomy in choosing projects and working hours
Emphasis on Work-Life Balance	Employees are seeking more flexible work arrangements to better integrate their personal and professional lives Employers have implemented policies that support work-life balance, such as wellness initiatives, family-friendly policies and mental health resources
Changes in occupations	Rapid technological change has meant that some jobs have experienced significant reductions in demand Examples include telephone operators, data and word processing roles and travel agents There is an increasing demand for software programmers and digital marketers

• Workers are increasingly moving away from the traditional pattern of a full time, continuous career with the same employer
  
  
• There are numerous ways in which employees are making changes to their working patterns 
   

Examples of changes to working patterns
 

• Job sharing involves two or more employees work at different times to complete the tasks required for one job
  • Work is typically shared on a weekly basis, with job sharers communicating regularly to ensure tasks are not missed 
  • This provides employees with flexibility whilst the employer benefits from the task being completed
     
• Employees may take a career break where they decide to stop working for a period of time before returning to work in the same career
  • New parents often take career breaks until children are old enough to commence formal education 
  • A sabbatical is a formalised career break, frequently used by employees to study or engage in other developmental activity such as travel
    
    
• Downshifting involves a senior employee relinquishing their position to move to a lower-paid position with fewer responsibilities
  • Downshifting may occur when individuals change career or as workers approach retirement

• The nature of work routines has changes significantly in recent years
  • Full-time roles with permanent contracts are in decline
  • A range of alternative work routines are growing in popularity

Examples of alternative working routines
 

• Teleworking involves working at home or from any other location away from the traditional workplace
  • Advances in communications technologies have allowed workers to work anywhere with a reliable internet connection
  • Worker may attend a workplace from time to time for meetings or other essential purposes
    
    
• Flexitime allows employees to work a specific amount of hours of work at times of their own choosing
  • Workers can fit work tasks around their other responsibilities such as childcare
     
• Part-time work is where employers work for fewer hours than those expected in a full time role
   
• Employees on temporary contracts work for a business for a specific period of time, often through an employment agency
   
• There are increased calls for businesses to offer the opportunity for employees to fulfil hours of work over four days of the week, rather than five
  • Between 2015 and 2019 Iceland ran a large 4-day workweek pilots with close to 2,500 people participating
  • The trial was considered an overwhelming success among researchers, with employees reporting improved well-being, work-life balance and productivity