Author: Liz Frome
As workers say goodbye to 2023 and its workplace trends, here are the trends some workplace experts expect to see in 2024.
The Return-to-Office Battle Will Continue
Employers mandating a return to office, or RTO, will continue into 2024. But this push didn’t work well for everyone in 2023, and those troubles are expected to continue in the new year. Some issues behind the troubles have included mandates being too strict along with a lack of data to back them up, employees feeling like they aren’t being heard or respected, and in-office attendance being directly tied to performance reviews. Most companies will be going to a 4-day work week starting in early February 2024 in San Francisco. (They are working with the cities to try and get people back to work for its vitality.) We are seeing an uptick in business as companies are having to hire positions to take care of the trend.
Flexibility Will Continue to Be Key
The workplace will continue to see a strong appetite for part-time schedules from both employees and employers. (Sometimes a company does not need full time and can fill the role with just 3-4 days a week. We are combining roles if at all possible and offering a full-time role but two job descriptions.)
The 5-Day Workweek May Die
With so many companies allowing ongoing flexibility in work-from-home or hybrid arrangements, the number of days in the workweek will remain in flux and is projected to continue to skew toward fewer days.
The DEI Conversation Will Shift
The year 2023 also saw a major shift in the diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, conversation that will continue into 2024. Factors such as the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action have many organizations redefining their DEI programs with more emphasis on "equity and inclusion" and less emphasis on equity.
Wage Pressures Will Continue to Subside
In 2024, employers will shift away from signing or retention bonuses as well as from significant compensation increases for new hires. We’ll also see “fewer notable pay bumps” for those making lateral moves.
Workers Will Prioritize Stability
In a reversal of prior years that included employees doing more job-hopping, workers in 2024 will stay at their current companies longer as they seek more stability in today’s uncertain economic environment. Job seekers will increasingly seek out companies with stability and a strong track record as opposed to jumping ship for the promise of a significant pay boost.
Peak Holiday Employment Season Will Extend
With expectations for consumer interest in e-commerce purchases to continue this holiday season, the peak holiday employment season will roll over into early 2024 and extend through January.
Retirees Will Return to the Workplace
More retirees – some of whom took early retirement during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic – will return to the workplace for a multitude of reasons. Retirees return to achieve financial goals, social engagement, fulfillment of a personal passion and more mental stimulation to enrich their lives. (The Job Shop employs many retirees as they do not want to sit at home and they want to still be active. In San Francisco it is very expensive to live, and many need the extra income to meet the bills.)
While 2024 will extend many trends that started in the previous year, it’s clear that the workplace will continue to evolve. Both employees and employers should be prepared to adjust accordingly.