New Year business resolutions — Eight workplace trends to look out for in 2018
With the Christmas period done and dusted, the majority of small business owners will be back at work and making plans for their year ahead.
Much like individuals, small firms often benefit from making a few new year’s business resolutions when January comes around.
At the start of the year, owners have an opportunity to reflect on the practices that have worked best for their business so far, update those which need a re-think and get rid of any that have become redundant.
To this end, it helps to have an idea of the wider trends that are likely to become popular with all business leaders in the year ahead. For small companies, implementing business resolutions can be pointless, unless those business resolutions complement trends emerging in the business community in general.
To help owners make those all-important new year’s business resolutions, research from job board CV Library has made eight UK workplace trend predictions for 2018. How many of these will help shape your business plan for the year?
Eight trends to help you make your new year business resolutions
(1) More fluidity in the job market
Nearly three quarters of the UK’s workforce believe that job-hopping has become more acceptable over the years, according to CV Library data, and 2018 is likely to see more workers opting for freelance and contract positions.
(2) Workplace perks will become more important
Some 62 per cent of UK professionals state that they consider workplace benefits to be a key factor when looking for a new role. This will continue to be an area of innovation in business, as more and more companies will seek new ways to stand out from competitors.
Read more: Six wellbeing trends business owners should look out for in 2018
(3) Rise of returnships
As many as four fifths of Britain’s workers have admitted they’d be more likely to join a company that offered a returnship scheme, and it is likely that more and more firms will offer these to employees in 2018.
(4) Progress made on closing the gender pay gap
Shockingly, 88 per cent of female workers in the UK have said they’ve been paid less by an employer because of their gender.
In April this year, larger UK business will face new gender pay gap reporting rules, but it is likely that companies of all sizes will face pressure to up their game and move closer towards fair and equal pay.
(5) Greater flexibility for workers
In 2017, two thirds of the UK’s workforce lost up to 16 days of work from commuting. CV Library therefore predicts that more businesses will offer their staff flexible working options and working-from-home time this year.
(6) Prioritising work/life balance
Company bosses will look to ease pressure on staff and alleviate stress in 2018, as last year’s data showed that 37 per cent of UK workers put in over 13 days of extra work, whilst 54 per cent claimed they often worked more than their contracted hours.
(7) Employee morale will be driven by strong leadership
Two per cent of British employees have experienced a bad leader at work, according to a survey, and over 40 per cent stated that bad management made them feel de-motivated. This year, businesses which maintain a strong management structure, which focusses on the happiness of staff, will retain talent and boost growth.
(8) Diversity will be taken more seriously
Last year, some eight per cent of staff revealed that age discrimination was common in their workplace. 2018 is set to be a year when all kinds of diversity, including age, race and gender, will be celebrated in UK workplaces.
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About the Author
Fred Heritage is deputy editor at Business Advice. He has a BA in politics and international relations from the University of Kent and an MA in international conflict from Kings College London. He previously worked as a reporter at Global Trade Review magazine.
