Six workplace trends leaders need to tackle in 2024

The way we work is constantly evolving but the past few years have seen the level of change accelerate and it has included some surprising twists for employers and employees alike.

There are six major trends set to emerge in 2024, according to a report from Gallup, and we examine them to see how they will influence and impact your workplace. From relationship resets to a striving for purpose, we look at what they might mean for the Irish workplace. 

Stress vs engagement

The first of Gallup’s findings is a pretty grim one: they found that, while employee engagement is rising, worker stress has remained at a record high since the pandemic.

Fifty-two per cent of the workers surveyed said they experienced stress the previous day and Gallup says it’s unclear which trend will win out in 2024: “the ongoing rise in stress or the improvement in employee engagement?”

Which way will the pendulum swing in Ireland? In the current economic climate, stress may win over.

PwC Ireland’s Hopes And Fears Workforce Survey 2023 found that 23% of Irish workers find their workload unmanageable and many more are feeling the strain of economic instability.

In 2024, leaders will need to find new and innovative ways to ensure their teams are fully engaged but not to the point of burnout.

This might mean analysing employee workload and devising meaningful workplace wellbeing schemes that prioritise workers’ health, wellbeing, and engagement during a cost-of-living crisis.

Employees seeking purpose-led roles

One way to boost employee engagement? Connect with a mission. Gallup’s research has found that this is particularly challenging for companies with exclusively remote employees.

Just 28% of remote employees said “the mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important” compared to 33% and 35% of on-site and hybrid workers respectively.

Trends like Quiet Quitting and Lazy Girl Jobs that advocate for doing the bare minimum at work, may make it seem like many of us have emotionally checked out of our jobs, but it may well be the case that what we’re really seeking is a purpose. A reason to get out of bed in the morning.

The outlook in Ireland is similar. CIPD’s HR Practices In Ireland 2023 survey report found that 41% of organisations were putting a greater emphasis on investing in the employer brand.

The impact of a bad cultural fit is also made clear. The same survey identified that workload/burnout (35%) and work/life balance (28%) were factors contributing to employees leaving.

It’s obvious that in 2024, when Irish workers do not feel valued or connected to a meaningful mission or purpose, they are more inclined to go elsewhere.

Trust in leadership

Gallup reckons leaders have a lot of work to do. They note that trust in organisational leadership has significantly declined since the onset of the pandemic.

It improved in 2023, but only marginally, with just 23% of employees saying they trust the leadership of their organisation.

What will it take to win over employees’ trust in 2024? 95% said clear communication, inspiring confidence in the future, and the ability to lead and support change are crucial.

The aforementioned study by PwC Ireland draws a similar conclusion and suggests some employees have lost confidence in their leaders.  

One in five (20%) of Irish respondents believe that if their employer continues on its current path, their organisation will not be in business in 10 years.

They note that, if organisations are to navigate “complex and ever-evolving external challenges, leaders must reevaluate their strategies and transform their organisations.”

Managers will be on the move

Managers are getting squeezed. At least that’s the conclusion that Gallup has drawn. Their report suggests that manager engagement is declining, along with the belief that their employers care about their wellbeing.

Meanwhile, among managers, Gallup says intent to leave has risen, so we can expect to see a lot of job movement among team leaders.

What could this mean for Irish workforces? Well, the “manager squeeze” largely comes from increased responsibilities, tighter budgets, and new teams, so it’s likely that managers here who are facing similar challenges will be on the lookout for a new role too.

After all, PwC reports that one in five Irish workers are looking for a new job.

Long-term hybrid work strategies

Good news for anyone currently enjoying their hybrid work setup: Gallup reckons this new way of working is here to stay. And what’s more, they reckon employers will need to work hard to create strategies that optimise hybrid working.

Gallup says, “That means doing things like creating a compelling workplace value proposition, empowering teams to collaborate more effectively, revising performance management systems, and training managers to be great hybrid coaches.”

The Irish Times reports that a quarter of Irish workers now work from home most of the time, so long-term WFH strategies will likely be a major point of focus in 2024 on these shores too.

Communication and collaboration

As remote roles and hybrid working arrangements continue and evolve, companies will need to ensure effective communication and collaboration between teams. Ever found it difficult to check in with a fellow remote employee? Or been confused by a colleague’s hybrid work schedule?

In 2024, Gallup predicts that companies will work to overcome these challenges. What’s needed? Gallup says that organisations “must thoughtfully create and fully commit to a strategy for how they best communicate, collaborate, build relationships and solidify their work culture”.

Here in Ireland, CIPD’s report notes that sustaining culture has emerged as the biggest challenge from remote/hybrid working, so it looks like a shake-up of how we communicate and collaborate is due here too. 

Conclusion

It’s normal to fear change, particularly when it impacts something as important as the way we work. But as the saying goes, the future belongs to those who prepare for it. 

Being aware of the trends and understanding how they relate to your own working environment means you’re better equipped to navigate any changes the year brings. 

Nominations are now open for the 2024 IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards

Nominations are now open for the most prestigious awards for women in business in Ireland. If this is your year to shine (and it should be!), find out more about the categories of the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year awards on this dedicated page or go straight to the Nominations Page to download your Nomination Form and start your application!

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