30 April 2018 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal
Companies must give employees more of a voice when shaping the culture of the workplace, according to support services firm Sodexo's 2018 Global Workplace Trends report.
The report highlights the most critical factors affecting the future of work and demonstrates how an improved workplace experience is key to increasing companies' performance and leads ultimately to better employee engagement.
The report states that "employees are now key stakeholders when it comes to shaping CR strategies. It is important for companies to give their workforce a voice, enabling them to feel fulfilled - while working towards a better future for all".
Recognising the increasing presence of robotic and artificial intelligence in the workplace and daily life, the trends outline the ways that the development of individual and collective human intelligence will guide the impact of technology on life.
Sylvia Metayer, CEO, worldwide corporate services, said: "By understanding and anticipating these trends, we can more effectively help our clients plan what lies ahead, by experimenting and implementing human-centred and experience-based solutions."
Alongside empowering employees this year's report focuses on six other interconnected topics with an overarching unifying theme: the need for collective intelligence across all workplace domains, which includes:
Getting ready for Gen Z: With high expectations around technology and flexibility, while paying close attention to well-being and quality of life, Gen Z is reshaping the workplace in new and exciting ways for all generations.
The Internet of Things: shaping the future for workplace: IoT-supported workplace environments are an opportunity to operate and engage businesses and employees in a more effective manner by improving comfort in physical spaces, flexibility, precision in the process and ultimately quality of life for everyone.
Creating the emotionally intelligent workplace: Emotional intelligence has become a core skill set for high-performing organisations and leaders today. The workplace itself can be emotionally intelligent - by allowing people to bring their full spectrum of emotions to work, and aligning their fundamental human needs and motivations.
Re-imagining resources in the sharing economy: Forward-thinking organisations are redefining their business models to leverage the benefits of the sharing economy.
Moving the needle of gender balance: To create a gender intelligent workplace, companies must examine the barriers that are holding back women and implement a cultural transformation driven by inclusive leaders.
Human capital management 3.0: Human Capital Management (HCM) 3.0 is bringing all the different technologies and programmes (learning, recognition, wellness) together to transform the work experience into the life experience. HCM aims to enhance the employee experience and help organisations perform at their best.
Sodexo's Colleen Conklin, director of research for corporate services, NORAM, will be revealing more at this year's ThinkFM conference tomorrow in her 3.55pm session: 'Unlocking human potential through an emotionally intelligent workplace'.