The only constant in life is change. It’s a cliche because it’s true, of course, and living in the digital age means we’re dealing with more change than has been seen in generations. Coupled with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, we all know that things can change in an instant, in ways both beneficial and troubling. 

But with change comes the opportunity for advancement, for innovation and for great success. Moving forward and adapting to a new world might seem scary and stressful at first, but think of where we were as a society 100 years ago: Cars were slow, clunky and poorly insulated against the elements; medicine had yet to realize the mold growing on bread was a powerful antibiotic and it took days, if not weeks, for information to travel across state lines. Embrace the future! 

Here are some ways to adapt to the changing workforce and stay in keeping with the trends. 

• Technology is your friend. This isn’t about the advancement and availability of all artificial intelligence software, but it is about AI a little bit. When it comes to recruiting and finding quality job candidates, AI and automation can be a powerful tool for overruling biases, speeding the pace of hiring from scanning resumes to find the most qualified candidates and even scheduling interviews for you, and even making sure you job posting doesn’t contain any language that might be discriminatory. Additionally, automating some processes can free up your valuable time and help you and your team become more efficient. There are so many programs out there that can analyze data, run detailed reports and do it all faster and more accurately than even the most adept person; it’s worth looking into and considering your options. 

• Embrace the hybrid working model. Depending on your industry, remote work might not be a permanent possibility. But if your employees are starting to ask about working from home once in a while, or one day per week, find ways to make it work. Remote or hybrid work — when employees mostly come to the office but have the opportunity to work at home one day a week or as otherwise arranged — is a powerful recruitment offering and something younger employees and candidates are beginning to expect in some industries. We learned from the pandemic that what seemed impossible before is very much possible and can, in fact, boost productivity, employee morale, work-life balance and so many other attractive things. Offering remote or hybrid work will help you attract top talent as well while also rewarding your long-time employees who have been struggling or working hard to balance the demands of their home life with their responsibilities on the job. Technology now makes it an almost seamless experience to work in the office or at another location; establishing a system that allows your team to work in the environment that’s best for them is an investment in your employee and your company. 

• Be flexible. Speaking of embracing new things, gone are the days when a person did one job, in one role, for their whole career. We know that people are coming to work with a multitude of skills, interests and abilities. People are multifaceted and want to be challenged at work; they want to be able to do many different things or they’ll start to feel bored and stifled. The solution to this is to offer opportunities for your employees to learn new skills, to add to their abilities and to try out different positions within your company that appeal to their interests. This can include things like training opportunities (more on that in a moment) but also job shadowing and mentorship, in addition to encouraging them to find ways to bring their outside interests to work. If one of your employees is really interested in graphic design, incorporate that into their regular work. Encouraging this kind of passion project helps employees feel supported and valued and, in some cases, it helps your company add abilities that would otherwise be contracted out to third-party work. 

• Encourage the pursuit of knowledge. People are curious by nature. We like to learn. We like to pick up new information and understand new concepts. The same is true at work: People want to continue to hone their skills and add to their abilities, adding layers to their knowledge while advancing in their careers. If your team doesn’t have the opportunity to grow and learn new skills while under your roof, that might be enough to send them looking for greener pastures. The solution is to find ways to encourage and make available educational opportunities that are accessible by your employees: whether that’s a series of online tutorials, in-person workshops, attending conferences or reimbursement for additional training or college classes. It’s a win-win: The employees will be learning and growing in their abilities while your company has an expanded talent base and institutional knowledge without having to hire more employees. 

The future of work is built on the ability and willingness to adapt, to change and to lean forward. The old way of doing things needs to shift and adjust to the expectations of a new age of technology and employees. A supportive work environment doesn’t look the way it used to either, but companies and employees will benefit tremendously by learning to embrace new ways of thinking and doing. 

If you’d like more advice on how to best adapt for the future, or if you’re looking for new employees to add to your team, call Davis Staffing. Our recruiters can help guide the way to a forward-thinking company while also introducing you to strong candidates with the background and experience you need for your company’s continued success. Call Davis Staffing today and let’s get started.