Sodexo analyses workplace trends in 2015 report

16th of February 2015
Sodexo analyses workplace trends in 2015 report

Employees and consumers are gaining greater influence over corporations’ behaviour thanks to a surge in e-commerce and social sharing. That's according to service provider Sodexo's 2015 Workplace Trends Report.

The study also reports a new form of public accountability, dubbed 'Rateocracy' is putting unprecedented pressure on companies to act transparently, highlighting one of the major shifts in how the workplace is changing in response to technology and cultural expectations.

“When workers and customers can instantly share their opinions of a company with thousands of people, concerns like morale, transparency and fairness become an integral part of how businesses manage their reputation,” said Michael Norris, Sodexo’s chief operating officer.

“The goal of the Workplace Trends Report is to evaluate how ongoing changes, like the growing power of one person to influence a company’s reputation, are affecting the everyday experiences of employees and their managers. Those everyday experiences have bottom line implications when you consider that $3.6 trillion in retail sales are directly influenced by online reviews and social media.”

The report provides an in-depth analysis of nine notable implications accompanying this new era of Rateocracy, including the need for constant real-time reputation management and the new role of the CEO, which is to communicate an honest and aspirational vision that connects employees and consumers. Transparency is particularly important in addressing public relations challenges that are increasingly being amplified through social channels.

One trend identified is the development of 'airport cities' in which an airport becomes a business magnet and an engine for regional economic development. For a growing number of companies, large and commercially developed airports provide not just physical connectivity but a functional headquarters where geographically dispersed corporate staff, executives, and board members can fly in for sales meetings, client contacts, and decision-making.

The emergence of mindfulness and meditation at work is another key trend for employees and businesses. The effects on employees of being highly stressed are well recognised and the long list of problems is setting off alarm bells for companies seeking to recruit, retain and get the best out of talented employees. Some large employers are offering programmes to employees that relieve stress and target the roots of chronic health conditions and lost productivity.

The Workplace Trends Report also identified 10 skills essential for future success in the workforce - sense-making; social intelligence; novel and adaptive thinking; cross-cultural competency; computational thinking; new media literacy; transdisciplinarity; design mindset; cognitive load management and virtual collaboration.

To view the whole report click here

 

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