A few workplace trends employers should know | Employers turn to raises for workers to boost retention | Tune up your strategic thinking to jump-start innovation in 2023
The workplace is still absorbing the pandemic-led developments that have disrupted where and how people work, and now, as we enter 2023, there are more trends on the horizon that could bring even further change. These trends include a greater emphasis on upskilling and soft skills and a growing momentum around pay transparency.
Workers who remained with their employers received an average year-over-year pay increase of 5.5% in November, the biggest raise in 25 years, as a tight labor market pushed firms toward drastic measures to retain talent. Wage increases are expected to continue in 2023, but the pace could slow as the labor market eases and as inflation cools.
Employers can use five training techniques to deliver the purposeful, trusting and empathetic work experiences that today's employees want, writes Interaction Associates' Chris Williams. These include encouraging curiosity, training leaders on how to involve individuals in decision-making processes and fostering an open culture by making transparency a priority.
A Resume.io ranking found that the US is second-to-last in its number of paid vacation days and paid public holidays among 179 countries, while Iran ranks at the top of the list. "The key reason why the US lags so far behind is because it is the only advanced economy that does not mandate any paid vacation time for workers," Resume.io's Lotte van Rijswijk says.
It is possible to make weekly meetings more effective and engaging by setting the proper context and taking steps to promote inclusion and show appreciation for employees' work.
Last night, I watched with shock and worry as 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after making a tackle. The game came to a halt as medical staff performed CPR and worked to stabilize the young defensive back. Players on both sides of the field knelt with tear-streaked faces to pray for their fallen brother.
"[I]f the NFL isn't flying people to Cincinnati right now, or to Buffalo, or wherever they're going right now -- they are missing the point. The point is: Make sure these men are all right, and then you can play football," Clark said.
Mental health matters, as we see in today’s top story. Workers are facing a number of issues, including a fragile economy and employment landscape, according to Talent.com’s Robert Boersma. This uncertainty can affect employees’ mental health and, consequently, work productivity. Boersma recommends employers get out ahead of these issues by supplying their teams with resources designed to support their mental well-being.
I concur. I believe that emotional health is my personal responsibility, but I also see the importance of employers acknowledging their workers are under strain and providing access to tools that can help. I plan to pay closer attention to my team’s wellness in this new year.
Before I conclude today’s letter, I need to call out an error made in my Dec. 23 column. “Happy New Year” in Hawaiian was misspelled. We have made the correction and apologize for the error.
How can I serve you better with this brief this year? Let me know! And if you enjoy this brief, tell others so they can benefit also.
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