As we head into 2022, we think about what has changed in 2021 from a business standpoint. There have been many trends which entered 2021 from 2020 and will continue to stay, others have slowly disappeared, and then there are also new trends which emerged in 2021 which will continue to grow into the coming year.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing continues to grow, and has been a very key part of our lives, whether we recognise it or not for a few years now. Many businesses have thrived, and even relied entirely upon influencer marketing as a means to get their brand and message out to the masses. Online platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have continued to grow in 2021, and with it, the continued growth of influencer marketing. We may see changes in specific preferences for influencer marketing in 2022, whether it be different platforms emerging as favourites, or different styles of marketing, but there is no doubt that utilising influencers to reach your target audience is here to stay.
Hybrid Workplaces
2020 and 2021 were really the years of “working from home”. The COVID pandemic has brought many things, and one of them is the increased recognition that we can successfully work from home just as well as we work from an office environment. However, individuals also realised that fully working from home comes with downsides as well, such as a lack of social interaction. Therefore, towards the second half of 2021 we saw a significant growth in “hybrid working” where companies allow their staff to have their own say in terms of when they work from home or the office.
Many companies have been cautious of hybrid working, and some business areas such as Finance have generally been completely against it. However, in 2022, we will likely see more of a push from staff to operate in a Hybrid working environment.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental health certainly shouldn’t be described as a trend, but we’ve certainly seen an uptick in recognition of its importance in the workplace. This will continue to grow into 2022, and will be widely recognised as an important factor in all workplace matters, no matter the size of the company. Factors such as lack of staffing, pressure, empathy, work-life balance and more will become far more prominent in 2022, especially as many companies struggle to hang on to staff.
Broader Recruitment
2021 was really the year where many companies realised they could provide flexible working to their staff. But more than that, they don’t actually need staff in their headquarters at all. Many companies, especially in the tech industries are finding staff located all over the world who continue to work remotely once hired. Companies who have a clear vision and culture will implement this type of working well, and it will become more normalised in the labour market in 2022. This level of flexible working can be the difference for individuals looking to change roles in 2022 as well. HR teams will certainly need to pivot their roles slightly in order to provide the best opportunity for their teams.
