Recent Trends in Workplace Change (DP IB Business Management)

Recent Trends in Workplace Change

• 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 

Diagram: changes in the working environment

Changes in Working Patterns

• 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

Changes in Working Preferences

• 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 

Diagram: 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

Changes to Working Practices

• 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

Diagram: changes to 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