It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Nicki Robson, Managing Director, Breedon Consulting.
2021 has been a year of transformation for many businesses, but this doesn’t look set to change any time soon.
As the pandemic continues to bite and hybrid working becomes the new normal, there is a rising shift in power between employers and employees. This is amidst an increasingly difficult recruitment market, which has seen previously loyal employees have their heads turned by speculative approaches. Employers are now willing to offer significant rewards and flexible working options to attract new talent.
To counter this, 2022 is likely to be a year to focus on employee retention, and employers would be well placed to consider their retention strategies and how they differentiate their employer brand. Maintaining team morale, motivation and engagement will be key to reducing the likelihood of resignations, coupled with a focus on employee health and wellbeing.
Flexibility of approach will also be an increasingly important consideration in 2022. Flexible working options are becoming more of an expectation from employees who have recognised the improved work life balance available to them, by changes that were adopted out of necessity.
Employers who insist on returning to pre-pandemic fixed ways of working, are expected to struggle further with both employee retention and attracting new joiners, as the trend for flexible working is unlikely to disappear any time soon.
