We’ve seen some unprecedented changes in work culture this past year. The future of work is up in the air, as are many things about 2022. But we can safely say that some things have changed enough to carry on into the next year.

As the dust settles, it’s pretty clear that there’s been a shift in power: from “me” to “we”. Organisations are becoming increasingly people-centric; employees are putting their health, wellbeing and family on par with work, if not higher.

Let’s jump into some stand-out predictions for workplace trends in 2022, shall we?

Hybrid work: The best of both worlds

We now have three models of work: centralised workplaces with remote teams, decentralised and fully remote organisations, and hybrid workplaces.

Come 2022, employees are likely going to have more say in where they want to work, choosing spaces that align with their preferences rather than the organisation’s.

Hybrid work might mean shuttling between a physical office and WFH each week. For others, it might mean shifting into a co-working space for major meetings and discussions.

Regardless, the increased freedom that people have experienced while working from home means that this workplace trend is likely here to stay!

Mental and emotional wellbeing benefits

To say that our collective wellbeing took a toll over the past two years would be a severe understatement, don’t you think? It’s given us enough time to think about the impact of our well-being on literally every other aspect of life.

Come 2022, we expect business leaders to lead from the front and offer the right benefits beyond just money and ESOPs. These benefits include:

Employee analytics and efficiency-increasing metrics

Organisation leaders have been investing in technology that allows them to bring out the best in their employees. Some of these tools monitor and track employee behaviour, while yet others use empathetic processes to drive both productivity and wellbeing.

We’re fans of the latter more than the former. This is because employee tracking tools can become overbearing and intrusive if used for the wrong reasons.

When used correctly, though, employee analytics tools can help teams and leaders identify red flags, look after each other, and practice healthy productivity instead of robotic working. After all, individuality makes a workplace unique — and it’s good to play to one’s strengths, right?

Simple processes that enable flexibility

Here’s a hill we’re ready to die on: in 2022, complex processes and bureaucracy will lose to simple and flexible processes.

Much of our working life is currently consumed by red tape. But now that we’re focusing on employee wellbeing and efficiency, clunky tools and processes will be left behind, and easy-to-use portals will take centre stage.

Take Pause, for example: it’s all about simplicity. Booking time off takes 3 clicks; automated records ensure everyone’s kept in the loop at all times. Similar tools are making otherwise boring tasks easy, if not fun.

These are predictions, but they’re also our hope. As an empathetic, employee-first tool, Pause is dedicated to making workplaces healthier and more encouraging. We know first-hand just how hard it is to build an organisation from scratch; we also know how difficult it is to find the right tools and resources.

Come 2022, we hope to see more employee-first workplaces that value all the right things—wellbeing, trust, and transparency—above profit!

If you’d like to start the new year with leave management done right, why not take Pause for a spin with a 90-day free trial?