4 Workplace Changes That Prompt Me To Give Thanks

In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday in November. It is a great time to review the happenings of the past 11 months and give thanks for the good things that have happened. It has been a fascinating year for those of us helping job seekers find exciting and fulfilling work. 2021 has been the year of the "Great Resignation," hybrid work, and vaccine mandates. There have been several positive trends in employment and recruiting that I am pleased to see.

So here are four trends that I am incredibly thankful for in 2021.

Remote Work/Flexible Work Arrangements

The COVID-19 pandemic has proved that remote work can be done well in some roles and industries. For many professionals that had to go into a fully remote role due to office closures, remote work was a game-changer. Employers were often resistant to partial or fully remote work before the pandemic, even though the technology was there to support it.

When office closures were needed due to safety concerns, workers who always wanted work flexibility experienced it and now do not want to go back full-time to an office job. They know that they can be productive in a remote role AND get the flexibility that supports a better personal life.

While many employers are demanding that workers come back to the office full-time, it appears that many employees are resistant to this call. In August and September of 2021, more than four million US workers quit their jobs. This high quit rate was due to many factors. Yet, a desire for remote work or flexibility to decide when and how to work has been a cause for some of these departures.

I, for one, am happy to see this. Everyone being in the office was an antiquated model with the availability of technology to keep people connected. It is good that we had an 18-month experiment to show that demanding people return to the office five days a week is old-school thinking. We'll see if those employers end up getting left behind.

Increased Compensation

Hallelujah that we have finally seen wage increases in many sectors of the economy. There has been a push for a $15 minimum wage in the US, but employers have been in resistance. While this has not passed, the economy's performance has put upward pressure on wages. In 2021, the US saw double-digit wage growth year-over-year starting in April. In my area of the country, starting wages for restaurant and retail jobs are routinely posted at $15+/hour. Many of my coaching clients, who are at the professional level, have seen increases of 10-20% when they get a new job. These increases are happening after many years of stagnant wage growth.

It is essential to know your worth in the job market. Even if you are not looking for a new job, understanding your market value is critical. If you are not fairly compensated, now is the time to ask for a raise. If you cannot convince your employer to give you one, it might be time to look elsewhere.

 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

In 2021 the recruiting world has been abuzz with talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Diversity includes having people with different backgrounds and experiences as part of an organization. Equity means having programs and systems in place to ensure outcomes for all are as equal as possible. Inclusion means allowing people to bring their whole self to work and not feel that they need to hide a part of themselves for fear of retribution.

Many employers have been at the forefront of DEI, but others have been late to the game and are trying to catch up. Many studies have shown that DEI allows companies to better compete in the marketplace and achieve better business results, all while making their organization a better place to work.

DEI issues will not be fixed overnight, and some organizations will always be doing better than others. But the focus on DEI, especially in the hiring and onboarding process, is, I believe, a good thing. When organizations walk the walk and not just talk the talk, it makes a better working environment not just for those most impacted, such as the disabled, neurodiverse individuals, people of color, and members of the LGTBQ+ community, but for all.

Mental Well-Being

When I first started in HR, workers who had mental challenges often suffered in silence. They felt it was taboo to talk about their issues for fear it would, at the least, be a mark against them in the eyes of their peers and supervisors, and at the worse, result in termination. Fortunately, as a society, we have become more comfortable talking about mental well-being and its importance. This year we had the examples of Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles, world-class athletes, talking about their mental challenges and the need to address them, even at the cost of not competing.

With the pandemic shining a spotlight on mental health issues, HR practitioners and senior leaders in organizations across industries have embraced a focus on their staff members' mental well-being. This has occurred in three significant ways.

Open discussions about mental wellness. Many employers have made the workplace a safe place to have conversations about mental health without adverse repercussions.

Resources. Having many resources available and making employees aware of them.

Accommodation. Unique ways to accommodate employees who need to address their mental wellness issues.

When employers put mental well-being as a priority, days lost from work and health costs decrease. Plus, turnover, a huge expense for employers, can go down.

 Conclusion

While 2021 has been a challenging year, and we still haven't seen the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many things to be thankful for this year. I picked my top four in the careers front, but there are many more I could have put on this list. Take a moment to think about what you are thankful for in 2021. Like me, your list may be long.

Shelley Piedmont is a job search coach. She wants to help job seekers put their best foot forward by providing the tools for a successful job search. If you need career coaching, resume preparation, interview skills assessment, or LinkedIn profile assistance, she can help. Schedule a 15-minute no-obligation consultation.