EF News
We asked - you answered!
As part of our Big Question feature, we asked four Forum members: what business trend(s) do you think will emerge in 2022?
Emma Gaudern, EMG Solicitors
There is so much talk about people moving towards home working permanently.
Whilst I think that may be where we see many people move to in 2022 (especially if we have another lockdown!) I don’t think it will be a permanent trend. Many people enjoy working from home at times, we are social creatures and in my opinion if the only relationship we have with our employers and colleagues is a virtual one, it will not be that strong.
I would prefer to work with colleagues who choose to work with us for our sense of team and community, because we like each other and look after each other, and not just for the pay. I don’t believe that all that can be achieved in working from home. I expect that in 2023/24, people may realise this and we may see a drift back to more time in the office. Firms will need to be ready to accommodate people wanting to spend time in the office and may need to be able to scale their available desk space accordingly.
Doug Dinwiddie, White Digital
We might start to see Crypto Currencies appearing on companies’ balance sheets. A little controversial, maybe, however the world may start to see some quite large effects from the money that has been injected into the system over the last 18-20 months through Covid loans and grants. Business owners, financial controllers and directors may need to start managing the risk and opportunities that the Crypto markets can provide.
This is still a very volatile space and may not be somewhere businesses store high percentages of their cash reserves, but we could start to see people decide to cover themselves for any eventuality.
Jessica Williams, JustWilliams
With unprecedented levels of active roles in the market and flexibility in the work place no longer being a USP – I can see 2022 being a year for employers to get creative and lead the way with employee led benefits.
We have begun our journey to become a B-Corporation and believe fundamentally in People, Planet and Purpose – three areas which many organisations will increase their scope on next year. Climate Change and EDI are both topics high on agendas with many considering how to incorporate further.
As we look to create further efficiencies and the job market continues to tighten, outsourcing functions is likely to grow both UK wide and further afield. My hope is that positivity and resilience remain and organisation come together to support one another in a truly collaborative fashion.
Gary Giles, OGEL
I think that 'Work From Home’ and more specifically Hybrid working will become embedded in global work culture in 2022.
What Covid has shown us is that the majority of staff do not need to be in a central place of work Monday to Friday, Nine to Five, and whilst there are disadvantages these are massively outweighed by the benefits.
Reduced office accommodation costs which pleases the financial director. A better work/life balance which leads to greater employee loyalty and staff retention which pleases the HR director. Reduced traveling which leads to less congestion and less CO2 emissions which pleases us all.
I hope my prediction is right as our Ogel TaskPod has been designed for just this scenario…
