Guide Your Organization With Our 2024 Future of Work Trends
Jan 9, 2024
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This podcast discusses Gartner's 2024 future of work trends, including managing the impact of AI, employee conflict resolution, and the four-day workweek. They also explore the challenges of implementing generative AI and the changing career assumptions due to AI. Additionally, they highlight the limitations of traditional career paths and the benefits of non-traditional paths.
In 2024, organizations need to reassess their employee value propositions to meet the demands of job seekers who prioritize work-life balance, flexibility, and a sense of purpose.
Managers in 2024 are facing the challenge of managing conflicts and integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into their strategies to create productive and inclusive workplaces.
Deep dives
Shift in Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
In 2024, the employee value proposition (EVP) is undergoing a significant shift. Employees are demanding more than just compensation from their employers. Factors like work-life balance, flexibility, and a sense of purpose are becoming crucial considerations for job seekers. This shift has been accelerated by the great resignation, where people are willing to reject job offers with inadequate value propositions. Moreover, the cost of work crisis has emerged as a major concern, encompassing housing costs, childcare expenses, and commuting costs. The pandemic has shown that employees can be productive without physically coming into the office every day, challenging the assumption that employees must bear these costs to be effective. Organizations are now being forced to reassess their EVPs and explore creative solutions such as onsite childcare, stipends for childcare costs, and housing initiatives to address these challenges.
Challenges Faced by Managers
Managers, particularly middle managers, are facing new challenges in 2024. With intense global elections, social media algorithms, and misinformation campaigns, workplaces are becoming more conflict-ridden. Traditional strategies of keeping debates and political discussions outside the workplace are no longer practical. Managers are caught in the middle, trying to balance executives' expectations while also addressing the diverse perspectives and emotional conflicts among the workforce. This requires a new set of skills for managers to navigate and manage conflicts effectively. Moreover, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is no longer a separate entity but is increasingly being embedded into organizational strategies. Managers need to embrace diversity and inclusive practices to foster innovative and resilient workplaces. However, managing conflicts and actively integrating DEI can be challenging, requiring a careful balance to create a productive and inclusive environment.
The Impact of AI on Workforce and Managerial Roles
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping work dynamics, bringing both opportunities and risks. Managers need to experiment and implement AI in their workforce, but without proper checks and balances, organizations face significant hazards. Improper implementation of generative AI tools can lead to legal, reputational, and financial risks. Organizations are under pressure to implement AI, often without clear strategies or guidelines. The lack of checks and balances can result in employees using AI tools that have been banned, leading to unintended consequences. However, when implemented correctly, generative AI can enhance productivity and efficiency. Review processes and diverse perspectives are crucial to avoid issues such as misinformation, offensive language, or copyrighted material generated by AI. HR departments play a vital role in fostering conversations about implementing AI, rethinking workflows, and defining roles to leverage the potential of AI while mitigating risks.
Over the past four years, business leaders have had to navigate working from home and returning to the office (several times over), and now, the need for a nimble, resilient workforce. Gartner’s annual future of work trends report provides key insights and actionable strategies to navigate workplace dynamics, which this year run the gamut from managing the impact of AI to employee conflict resolution to the four-day workweek.
In this episode, Emily Rose McRae, a Senior Director Analyst in the HR practice at Gartner, outlines 2024’s nine future of work trends, the themes that have emerged, and how executives and people leaders can develop strategies to better manage their workforce.
