Top Trends in the Technology Sector

IT companies and employers who rely heavily on technology know better than anyone the repeat cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning. As the most rapidly evolving industry with many changes arriving faster than your progress of the previous shift, the challenges many American corporations saw come with COVID-19 were nothing tech professionals couldn’t handle. However, the new standard of virtual-first companies that aim to stay people-centric begs to question what that may look like for the tech industry’s future.

“CEOs know they must accelerate the adoption of digital business and are seeking more direct digital routes to connect with their customers, but with an eye on future economic risks, they also want to be efficient and protect margins and cash flow.” –David Groombridge, VP Analyst, Gartner.

From the continued developments in Automation, Edge Computing, AI & ML, Cybersecurity, Robotics, etc., to the rapidly increasing hiring needs and remote work shift, we have compiled the ultimate guide to the latest IT industry trends and statistics for 2022.

*Research & statistics are courtesy of the industry professionals at Forbes, Simplilearn, Gartner, LinchPin SEO & more!

These Technology Trends Continue To Surge

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

While AI & ML are far from new, many industries are looking for new ways to grow their resources further to implement these revolutionary technologies. Highly regarded for its excellence in navigation apps and image and speech recognition, AI has made groundbreaking steps in providing critical insights into predicting demand and monitoring resource functions. Machine Learning generates enormous demand for skilled employees across all industries as a subset of Artificial Intelligence. Experts predict the AI market will grow to $190 billion by 2025 (MarketsandMarkets).

Breakdown: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is software designed to simulate human thinking. Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI that starts without knowledge and becomes intelligent (Red Marker). Automation is a type of software that follows pre-programmed rules to carry out repetitive tasks without human intervention.

  • In addition to the rise of machine vision technology, low-code and no-code development platforms continue to emerge, allowing more users not to be limited by their coding capabilities.
  • AI engineering’s direct focus on developing ML algorithms to learn, analyze, and predict will help streamline AI delivery.
  • Autonomic systems which learn in real-time from their environments and construct new behavior will advance the capabilities in supporting regulations and situations yet to be seen.
  • Generate AI will compile data to create new, unseen content, helping accelerate research and Development cycles in medicine.

As an AI-centric version of DevOps, AIOps is intently focused on leveraging large data from various IT tools and devices to automatically read and react while still providing historical analytics (BMC).

Along with Automation, AI & ML are expected to generate a 9% increase in new US jobs by 2025 (Forrester), ranging in programming, testing, development, and more. The industry also boasts one of today’s highest salary ranges. Enabling companies of all styles to improve efficiency and reach their goals quickly, continued advancements in automation are well on the horizon.

Hyperautomation

Hyperautomation is a business-driven approach to rapidly identifying and automating as many processes as possible. It is designed to help enhance remote operation and dependability and streamline business procedures.

Autonomic Systems

Autonomic Systems are self-managed physical or software systems that learn from their environments and dynamically modify their algorithms in real-time to optimize their behavior in complex ecosystems. These systems create an agile set of technology capabilities that can support new requirements and situations, maximize performance and defend against attacks (Gartner).

There are many promising developments of AI in healthcare, such as PathAI, dedicated to providing hospitals and patients with accurate diagnoses through deep learning algorithms. ML is also used to speed up drug development by predicting symptoms and infections of patients. Our recent industry guide covering Medical Devices touched on the connection between various technology trends and the healthcare industry.

2. Cloud Computing | Edge Computing

As more companies migrate to cloud solutions, edge computing has emerged as a high-rising technology trend. A cloud is an IT environment that abstracts, pools, and shares IT resources across a network. An edge typically involves large volumes of data being handled at the edge of the network to optimize processing further. While edge computing is used to process time-sensitive data, cloud computing is utilized to process data that is not time-driven. Thus, edge computing accommodates for the shortcomings of cloud computing, IoT being one of the greatest beneficiaries.

• Clouds are places where data can be stored, or applications can run. They are software-defined environments created by data centers or server farms.
• Edges are also places where data is collected. They are physical environments made up of hardware outside a data center.
• Cloud computing is the act of running workloads in a cloud.
• Edge computing is the act of running workloads on edge devices.
(RedHat)

More industries are designating a place for digital information and resources and prioritizing safety in the process. Driven by major companies AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure, cloud computing allows companies to improve work efficiencies in the digital space. According to Forrester Research, the global cloud computing market will reach $482 billion this year. By the end of the year, the global edge computing market is expected to reach $6.72 billion, establishing a wide variety of jobs.

“Though many companies are adopting edge computing and are predicting the end of cloud computing, Bernard Golden points out that this is not substantiated because there is currently no analytical framework to prove it. Edge computing is not the only solution for the challenges faced by IT vendors and organizations and does not handle all applications across every environment, thus, cloud computing will still remain a crucial part of an organization’s IT infrastructure.” – Simplilearn

Another rising form of computing technology, Quantum Computing, is identified as a top emerging trend thanks to its ability to analyze and act on data quickly. QC has made tremendous strides in healthcare through the development of vaccines and in finance and banking through trading and fraud protection. The capabilities that lie within Quantum Computing are marked by experts to be the greatest in computing innovation. By 2029, the quantum computing market is projected to surpass $2.4 billion (Simplilearn).

3. Cybersecurity

While cybersecurity itself is a more routine practice, new threats are constantly arriving, thus demanding that security technologies keep evolving. First seeing a spike in cyber-attacks as a product of the remote work shift, more industries and organizations gathered a better understanding of the threats that accompany their technological developments. From hackers illegally accessing data and finding new ways to invade networks, the importance of investing in cybersecurity is immensely evident. Gartner predicts by 2025, “60% of organizations will use cybersecurity risk as a primary determinant in conducting third-party transactions and business engagements.” Experts forecast the global security market will grow from $217 billion today to $345 billion by 2026.

Cybersecurity has become immensely relied upon to quickly “verify identity content and policy adherence across cloud and noncloudy environments” (Gartner). Cybersecurity mesh also plays a tremendous role in modernizing organizations’ security architecture by enabling greater scalability, flexibility, and reliable cybersecurity control. “The security mesh enables core distributed policy enforcement and provides convenient composable tools that can be plugged anywhere into the mesh” (10xDS).

Courtesy of Gartner’s IT Contributor Kasey Panetta, check out these Eight Predictions For Cybersecurity in 2022 and Beyond.

4. Robotics

Similar to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the operations of Robotics aim to execute tasks typically performed by humans. Robotics Process Automation (RPA) is another technology automating jobs. RPA enlists software to automate repetitive tasks performed by humans, such as interpreting applications, processing transactions, reading data, and replying to emails (Simplilearn). As is the case with AI & ML, RPA will create many more jobs than it is replacing. By 2030, Experts predict the global robotics market could climb to $260 billion by 2030 (BCG).

Whether by taking the form of a human (physical) or a robotic application (virtual), the functionality of robots made a tremendous leap in 2022. The increased use of robotics in healthcare signifies the high demand for Robotics Engineers. Physical robotics highlight advancements in medical equipment, while virtual bots typically exist in software to automate customer service and sales tasks, overlapping with AI (LearnToCodeWithMe). Chatbots have also made significant improvements in the basic functions of customer service and their ability to resolve certain queries.

Courtesy of Automate.org, check out these Seven Trends and Predictions For Robotics in 2022.

Remote Work Shift –

The remote and hybrid work model is not going anywhere anytime soon. With the high productivity many US employers are experiencing, combined with the preferences of their employees, many organizations’ back-to-office plans have fallen by the wayside. PEW Research reports that 60% of US workers say their jobs can be done from home, while GoodHire found that 85% of US workers prefer job listings with remote work options.

TRUST Goes Both Ways – Employees seek to gain as much freedom and flexibility as possible. For employers wanting to stand out to top performers and highly coveted job-seekers, there is immense pressure to give in to these desires when plausible. In addition to technology growth, companies must prepare to invest in new health benefits, communication strategies, and overall holistic wellness to boost employee performance and retention.

Remote Work is best geared toward the IT & Software industry.

While technology is constantly evolving and improving, the rise of remote work forced technology to improve in new, specific ways, accelerating the global need for technology. As a result, remote-friendly SaaS services, such as Trello and Asana, have taken center stage (Fast Company). One key example of this is the need for enhanced software and hardware connectivity. As hardware struggles to manage high longevity in technology, the decentralization of large office spaces puts added pressure on the countless individual workspaces that need stable connectivity.

Now that AI is more of a mainstream concept, many employers are seeking specific AI expertise in 2022, such as natural language processing (NLP) and automated speech recognition (ASR). Furthermore, 70% of C-level executives prefer that their non-technical employees have some automation and AI skills (LearnToCodeWithMe).

Today’s workforce continues to ask the big question: Are the latest tech advancements causing humans to lose their jobs to robots and computers? Technically, yes, but this shift has created far more opportunities in tech! Machines are not replacing humans; as ITOps teams develop new skills, new roles will materialize. While the World Economic Forum expects 85 million jobs to be replaced by machines with AI by 2025, the same report expects 97 million new jobs to be created by 2025. With the developments in Edge Computing, Software Engineers predictably be the greatest beneficiaries, followed by Cloud Reliability Engineers, Cloud Infrastructure Engineers, Cloud Architects, Security Architects, and DevOps Cloud Engineers (Simplilearn).

Across all industries, the sharp rise of remote work was the source of over 20% of cyber-attacks over the past two years. As a result, cybersecurity quickly became one of the most in-demand jobs and prioritized tech skills in 2022. Hired.com reports that the demand for Security Engineers has increased by 132%. In fact, the number of jobs available in cybersecurity is growing 3x faster than any other tech-related job.

Job-Seekers: Do you have a growing interest in getting involved in tech? The tech industry is desperate for workers in general, leading to many job opportunities opening up to job-seekers with little-to-no industry experience. There are many varying avenues you can push toward!

Statistics, Facts & Growth Projections via Learn To Code With Me:

AI & ML:

Cloud Computing | Edge Computing | Quantum Computing:

Cybersecurity:

Robotics: 

  • LinkedIn reports that with the rise of both virtual and physical bots, the robotics industry has seen a 40% annual growth.
  • It’s estimated that the US will need 12,500 robotics engineers over the next ten years.
  • In 2021, Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical Robotics orders had a 69% growth (RoboDK).
  • The global market size of robots in healthcare will be worth $3.28 billion by 2025.

Learning About NexGoal

Want NexGoal to help you access the often-closed community of passive candidates and start sourcing top-performing employees for your organization? Filling positions in Engineering, Management, Sales, Customer Support, etc. across clients within SaaS, IT Consulting, IT Operations (and more), we are confident in our ability to connect you to proven talent. Contact our CEO, Kevin Dahl, at kevindahl@nexgoal.com to start putting this plan into action.

*Reference this article, and we will promote your job openings on LinkedIn and/or Indeed for free!

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How To Host More Efficient Meetings

Some people adore workplace meetings as a chance to communicate ideas, collaborate on projects, or simply interact with their coworkers. But for many, workplace meetings can be a source of stress. They can represent a momentum-killer and slow down one’s work process or cause anxiety about what the meeting might be about. In the world of remote work, this stress can be tenfold. After all, if you’re working in your pajamas, there better be a good reason for you to turn on the camera.

MIT Sloan’s Steven G. Rogelberg’s research suggests that a mere 50% of meeting time is used efficiently, and that number plummets even further for remote meetings. Luckily, Rogelberg believes it’s easy to host more efficient meetings.

“The good news is that there’s an evidence-based path forward based on more than 20 years of research on meetings and teams. Meeting science has yielded key insights that can be incredibly helpful to meeting leaders, especially during this challenging time that is marked by an increase in remote meetings.” –Rogelberg

Meetings are a great way to get your team motivated and cohesive and to complete chief objectives, but it’s important to make your meetings efficient. We’ll follow Business Made Simple’s model of what to do before, during, and after your meeting so you can host the most impactful meetings.

Before the meeting

The most vital step before hosting a meeting is to ask yourself whether something even needs to be a meeting. We’ve all experienced a “meeting” that could have been a quick email or impromptu conversation.

Don’t have a meeting for the sake of having a meeting, recommends Workrowd. For example, if you’re just sharing information rather than having a discussion, an email can suffice. You want to respect everyone’s time.

Once you’ve determined you do need to host a meeting, make sure you invite the people that need to be there. Overcrowding is the enemy of hosting an efficient meeting, especially in a remote setting. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos suggests the “two-pizza” rule for hosting meetings, meaning if two pizzas wouldn’t feed everyone in the meeting, you’ve invited too many people. This isn’t a direct amount, as I could put away a decent amount of pizza if pressed, but the concept is wise. Invite only those who need to be there, and take minutes that can be sent to anyone else.

Of course, to keep to these minutes you’ll want to create an agenda to stick to. Using an agenda lets employees know what the meeting is about and makes it easier to stick to a timetable. Business Made Simple also suggests creating an overall objective. Without trying to achieve a tangible result, attendees can feel that their time was wasted. If people know the purpose of the meeting and the goals to be met, it makes the time feel much more valuable.

During the meeting

Once the meeting begins, you need to keep things focused and efficient. Make sure to have someone taking notes to keep those outside the meeting in the loop. A good set of notes provides an excellent reference, but without a dedicated note-taker, you may miss important details.

“Without a designated note-taker, everyone has pieces of the meeting notes, but no one has the full picture.”-Business Made Simple

If you’re leading the meeting, you need to know how to facilitate and keep things flowing well. Recall that you need to respect peoples’ time. A facilitator should know when to change topics, circle back to important conversation points, and limit small talk. This keeps the meeting on track and minimizes the amount of downtime. By previously creating an agenda and objective, the facilitator’s job is much easier once the meeting begins.

Conversely, allow catchup time to make sure everyone is on the same page. Owl Lab’s Katherine Boyarsky suggests giving some time at the beginning of the meeting for people to briefly chat and introduce themselves, especially in remote settings. This not only provides an opportunity for workers to connect with one another but increases their visibility. A seen worker is more likely to participate and feel that their voice is heard while discussing crucial topics. Balancing the social factor is tricky but necessary to host a good meeting.

After the meeting

Just because the meeting is over doesn’t mean the fun is over. Some of the most important work comes once everyone has gone back to their desk or resumed their normal duties.

Hopefully, you were able to get good notes. By having a dedicated note-taker during the meeting, you’ll be able to easily reference action points and get your plans in gear. Follow up immediately while things are fresh to keep the momentum rolling, writes Business Made Simple. By keeping your meeting solution-oriented, you can start taking steps to implement your chosen solutions. Workrowd believes that even if you don’t settle on a single solution, narrowing down your options is still a win.

Because you took good notes, you’ll want to get the meeting summary to those that need them. This can take many forms: a direct copy of the note-taker’s notes, a simple summary paragraph or bulleted list, or a recording if the meeting was virtual.

Finally, after your meeting, be open to feedback on how to improve. Not every meeting will run smoothly, and you won’t always meet your objective. People get distracted or may be having a bad day, and that’s okay. The Enterprisers Project’s David Egts suggests to always validate the value of a meeting and look for areas to improve.

Wrap up

Meetings are necessary to create optimized workplace solutions and to collaborate with your team, and sometimes you need to directly look at someone to get the best feedback. But all meetings aren’t created equally, and not every conversation needs to be an official ‘on-the-docket’ meeting. By preparing for every step of your meeting, you can be sure to get the best and most efficient results. Want to make sure a meeting is the right call? Atlassian offers a helpful flowchart to see if your needs are best met by a meeting here.

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Finding Remote Work In 2022

The workplace climate of the last two years doesn’t appear poised to change in 2022. As new variants of COVID-19 gain prominence, we’re still learning how to cope with the pandemic in our day-to-day lives. Thanks to adapting technology, remote work, in particular, has not only become a valuable tool to keep workplaces running, but it has become a new norm.

While discussing workplace trends for 2022, IDG Connect theorized that remote work will become the standard for most workers. They speculate the Great Resignation will slow down in 2022, and companies that haven’t adapted to remote work will struggle.

“For those that invested early in supporting remote work, they will see the problems settle down earlier compared to those that either have not invested or did so half-heartedly.” -IDG Connect

If you’re starting a new job search this year, chances are you’ll either consider or fully seek out a remote job. To help you land that new position, we’ll discuss the different styles of remote work and the subtle challenges you need to be aware of when applying for remote positions.

What are the types of remote work?

The concept of working remotely is intuitive; you complete your work off-site. But remote work is actually an umbrella of different forms of working away from the office. There is fully work from home (WFH), hybrid, and flexible work. As a job seeker, you’ll need to be aware of the subtle differences of each type and figure out what form is best for your needs.

The blanket term ‘remote work’ generally refers to WFH. Simply, the employee will be able to do their entire job from their home (or other remote location). Meanwhile, ZDNet’s Owen Hughes excellently defines the difference between hybrid and flexible approaches.

“Hybrid working refers to the idea of splitting time between working in an office and working from home or another remote location, whereas flexible working tends to incorporate models of work that offer more freedom around how and when employees work. This can include flexible start and finish times, split shifts and non-traditional working weeks.” -Hughes

Some positions may require you to be available at certain times to work with team members or customers. In addition, some organizations will still need team members to come into the office for meetings or group tasks. It all depends on the company, the industry, and your potential position. As such, you need to be aware of what the organization is offering and what will work well with your needs.

The additional challenge is when companies themselves aren’t clear on or aware of these differences. With remote opportunities and culture a bigger focal point than salary, companies that understand these differences will attract more talent. After all, advertising a ‘flexible’ job that requires a strict 9-to-5 schedule would be a major faux pas.  Job Hunt suggests doing additional research, including reaching out to employees and reviewing sites like Glassdoor to confirm what a company means when they say ‘remote’ or ‘flexible’.

How to apply for remote work

Once you’ve identified the type of remote work you yearn for, be aware the application process can be slightly different as well. While you’ll still want to practice classic job search etiquette (keeping your resume action-oriented, using keywords to get your resume into the hands of a real person), remote work requires additional soft skills, and you’ll have more competition due to the wider search area.

Kevin Kirkpatrick, CEO of We Work Remotely! told Buzzfeed that communication skills (especially writing ability), resourcefulness, and the ability to work independently are some of the most crucial soft skills employers will seek in remote workers. When you’ll be mostly communicating digitally, knowing how to clearly express yourself is key while being remote requires independent solution making. Finding ways to showcase these types of skills on your resume and in interviews is necessary.

“Resourcefulness is another attribute remote companies look for. Teams need people that are able to come up with creative solutions no matter the context. People that are able to solve problems on their own and take ownership of what they do are always attractive for remote companies.” -Kirkpatrick

Meanwhile, Yoh’s blog offers excellent tips to achieve the best remote positions, and it should be no surprise that many of these tips involved technological literacy. If you’re applying for a remote position, it stands to reason your interview may be remote as well. Having a working camera, a stable internet connection, and strong video interview etiquette will show employers you’re ready to use technology on a day-to-day basis.

Wrap up

No matter which form it takes, remote work is the new norm, but both employers and employees are still adjusting to what this means. Understanding the options available to you is vital to finding the right position, as is being able to show off the right types of skills. This knowledge should not only assist you in landing a great remote position but also to recognize which organizations truly ‘get’ remote work.

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Recapping Our Top Five Articles From 2021

2021 was a challenging year, and we still are learning to adapt to and overcome the pandemic. In spite of the challenges this year brought, it also provided many opportunities for growth. We wanted to take the time and thank our readers, the candidates, and the clients we work with daily for your support and for working with us this year.

As the dawn of 2022 approaches, we wanted to reflect on the past year and look back at some of the articles our audience liked most in 2021. Whether you’re looking for strategies to land a new job, learning how to be in the best headspace at your current job, or you’re an employer seeking to bring in top-tier talent, our five most popular articles this year have something for everyone.

‘Let Go’ of Your Fear of Being Fired

Within the uncertainty of COVID-19 and detachment felt by many remote working employees, fighting through the fear of being fired is a common anxiety making work much more difficult for employees. Operating under this fear can be detrimental to daily job performance and mental health. It does not discriminate against rank, location, or industry. Similar to stress (and often inducing stress), fear drives us to a poor work-life balance and career burnout.

The first step towards seeing change is acknowledging your thoughts and accepting that they are not your reality. Initially revealed by Susie Moore, we break down five specific reasons you can and should push back against the fear of losing your job. 

Thought-Provoking Questions To Ask Your Interviewer

Employers take tremendous value in the questions you ask during an interview because they will reveal your level of preparation, engagement, and curiosity for the position. Quit focusing on yourself and how your personal needs will be addressed in the role. Instead, ask stimulating questions to produce a quality conversation that reveals you are invested in the team’s betterment and showcases your unique value.

Captivate your interviewer and position yourself as the ideal candidate by asking these five questions:

Nine Types of People You Need in Your Inner Circle

Today’s aspiring career professionals, especially women, are continually being told to expand their network, grow their brand, and capitalize on every opportunity thrown their way. However, this career guidance can be quite intimidating, and with the shift of the ongoing pandemic, it is becoming increasingly difficult to execute these commands. So, in what ways can the workforce of today stay intentional in nurturing their professional and personal relationships while creating an avenue for future opportunities?

In a recent article for Forbes Women, Ellevate’s Natalie Eicher reveals her team’s research on who should be a part of your “Success Circle” and why. Join us as we uncover and support her findings with critical insights of our own:

Employer Branding Strategy: Trends To Monitor in 2021

Employers: Does your brand effectively communicate the value your organization has to offer? Are you proud of your reputation in employee experience and employee satisfaction? It’s time you make the necessary adjustments to show your team how much you value their hard work, especially during the unpredictability of the pandemic. Furthermore, your acknowledgment and gratitude will often boost your team members’ mental well-being, thus improving productivity and encouraging them to show the validity of your kind words.

Many employers get wrapped up focusing on the consumer aspect of their brand, but there needs to be an equal focus on the viewpoint of employees and job-seekers. When a strong, healthy image is established through upheld core values, the quality and integrity within each employee will organically strengthen the company’s consumer brand. 

Through a well-structured employer branding strategy, companies can propel their talent acquisition to an upper echelon of job-seekers and improve employee retention. The current shift in today’s workforce calls employers to go beyond the traditional employer branding strategies, i.e., an appealing website, five-star testimonials, and detailed job postings. Here are three workplace trends today’s employers need to closely monitor and implement to stand out as a top place to work:

Six Resume Mistakes To Avoid in 2021

Whether you are looking to get started on your first job search out of college or looking to change careers, having an up-to-date resume is imperative. Recently, our friends at Nexxt revealed six of the most commonly overlooked mistakes made by job-seekers on their resumes. From overemphasizing soft skills to failing to provide clear timelines, falling victim to these mistakes will prove costly to your shot at the job.

Wrap up

Thanks so much for supporting us in 2021! If you’ve missed out on any of these career tips, we hope you take the time to review them today!

Let us know what kind of articles were your favorite and what you would like to see from our content team in 2022!

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How To Create A Culture Of Value At Work

Maya Angelou once said, “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

It can be hard to take this sentiment as more than a mere platitude in a world where cash is king, but for employees, it rings true. Happiness in the workplace leads to productive workers, and it turns out, salary isn’t the key to workplace happiness.

Via INC.com, Dapulse, a workplace collaboration tool, polled 10,000 users and asked a simple but profound question:

“What makes you happy at work?”

A strong company culture and useful perks towered over the idea of salary, but, in the end, one simple factor seemed to make workers the happiest—feeling valued.

Leah Walters of Dapulse noted, “But at the end of the day what we are learning time and time again from our users, and also as a company ourselves is, it is how you personally feel your work is being valued that makes you happier.”

A sense of being valued and belonging at work is what employees crave, and with the Great Resignation in full swing, a significant amount of employees are choosing happiness over salary. Workplaces need to examine their culture and see if they fit the bill. TalentCulture’s Andrew Nelson offered six ways to make employees feel valued. We look at our favorites.

Create innovative compensation packages

We just established that salary isn’t the key to workplace happiness, but a good compensation package is about more than money. Nelson writes that the traditional nine-to-five in the office is quickly fading, and employers need to offer new perks to compensate and keep their employees engaged.

Perkbox found that 66% of U.K. workers desired a more personalized benefits package, going beyond insurance and retirement deals (though those were still important!). What does a personalized benefits package look like?

Nelson suggested flexible schedules and leave policies, paid childcare, perks that improve employee well-being (gym memberships, counseling, etc.), and entertainment subscriptions. Indeed offers even more ideas, including performance pay and incentives (a great way to let an employee know their contributions are valued), transportation reimbursement, and volunteer days.

These perks are more in line with the reality of life in the 2020s and show a workplace committed to its employees and keeping with the times.

Stay modern

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: remote work is here to stay. We aren’t out of the woods with COVID-19 yet, and, regardless, remote work is a part of life now. A savvy workplace needs to embrace technology and keep the workplace modernized to keep employees feeling valued.

We’ve previously covered how to onboard remote teams and how to keep them engaged from home. Nelson reiterates the importance of adding company- or department-wide calls into the schedule to create a shared space to share ideas and praise. Social media can be a boon, especially for millennials. A workplace Teams space, Slack channel, or Discord server can be a place to exchange ideas or even just replace the water cooler as a platform for conversation.

For employees still working out of the office, modernizing the workplace is still a key. Forbes found that a massive number of employees seek a healthier workplace.

“An overwhelming majority (87%) of workers would like their current employer to offer healthier workspace benefits, with options ranging from wellness rooms, company fitness benefits, sit-stands, healthy lunch options and ergonomic seating.” -Forbes

Few people want to work in the stereotypical fluorescent lighting-filled cubicle jungle, and if you’ve ever worked in one, you know it’s hard to feel valued in that environment. Creating a welcoming environment for employees in and out of the office shows a commitment to investing in them, leading to a greater sense of value.

Make growth a priority

Many of Nelson’s suggestions (challenge employees, provide critical feedback) call back to a central theme: providing a foundation for growth. In the above section, we mentioned investing in employees, and this is another way to do that. If the modernized workplace is the soil, the interpersonal connections are the sunshine and water to help an employee blossom.

Giving an employee a challenging assignment shows that you believe in their capabilities while rotating employees through different assignments gives them a chance to grow, writes Nelson. Constructive feedback leads to growth and more success down the road, and actively taking time to mentor an employee shows how valued they are. Take an interest in their work and provide ways to invest in your employees.

Of course, don’t skimp out on the praise either. Indeed believes celebrating accomplishments is a great way to remind workers of their tangible accomplishments. Celebrate small and large numerical accomplishments, including customer satisfaction ratings, sales growth, new services, products, and clients, and onboarding new members. These reminders are a great way to foster a sense of value and growth.

Wrap up

They say money can’t buy happiness, and data supports the idea money isn’t the source of workplace happiness. Creating a mighty workplace culture of growth and value is the key to happy employees, and any organization wanting top-tier employees needs to view their value and happiness as a wise investment.

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