Published this month [August 2022], ‘The Great Realisation: Accelerating Trends, Renewed Urgency’ identifies the reinvention of work by workers in terms of flexibility, location and purpose as the No 1 trend, requiring greater focus on “a values-driven agenda, empathetic leaders and a culture of trust… and more autonomy as a norm”.

In the second highest slot is a priority for mental fitness, “expanding traditional health & safety exponentially. A mass movement to break the stigma of silence will require employers to be explicit about their increased duty of care, protecting mental health as well as wealth, employability and well being”, the report said. 

“Expect growing calls to action on ways to prevent burnout, build resilience and boost mental fitness,” the report urges, citing Manpower’s own 2021 Thrive Survey in which 3 in 10 workers report wanting more mental health days to prevent burnout.

Other trends identified include: 

• The continued decoupling of work and home
• The rise of voice and activism
• Skills scarcity is driving employer creativity, as they become increasingly creative and master the art of flexibility – to attract, retain and upskill. Quoting Gartner, the report said, “58% of all employees will need new skills to get their jobs done”
• The end of the generational era. The report said: “People of all ages will demand even more personalisation and resent being boxed, labelled and pitched against one another”
• From ‘she-cession’ to ‘she-covery’
• Organisations will increasingly be asked to take positions on social issues. All stakeholders will expect even more transparency around progress – not pledges – and will be held to account
• Human vs robot – hyperconnecting human strengths
• New dawn of sustainable technology
• Win-win = when wage gains are paid for by productivity growth
• Supply chain resilience and vendor consolidation will be at a premium to mitigate uncertainty and manage risk.

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