The Next Normal: Meeting Workforce Expectations in a Changing World

The way we work has undergone a massive transformation over the past 18 months. And as the world of work changes, so do workforce expectations.

In addition to navigating shifts in how and where we work, such as the rise in telecommuting, hybrid work and flexible scheduling, the labor market itself has been on quite a roller coaster. After dipping to record lows at the height of the pandemic, job postings are on the rebound in 2021. And while many employers are urgently hiring, many job seekers don’t feel that same sense of urgency. Health concerns and caregiving burdens could be holding some job seekers back, while others may be reassessing their priorities after a tumultuous 2020. Overall, candidates are more discerning about which roles to apply for as competition for talent heats up.

Lauren Kort, Senior Recruitment Evangelist at Indeed, shared global research on how these trends impact job seeker expectations at Indeed Interactive 2021. Let’s explore what the “next normal” looks like for human resources (HR) and recruiting.

Remote work and telecommuting continues

While not for everyone, the forced work-from-home (WFH) experiment during the pandemic demonstrated to many employers that remote work and telecommuting can be successful — and it’s highly sought after by candidates. In this clip, Lauren shares how job seekers and employers are responding to the WFH trend.

WFH and telecommuting options aren’t just an employee perk — they also have the potential to expand your talent pool. Watch this clip to learn how talent acquisition leaders can use WFH policies as an opportunity to boost diversity.

Recruiters can diversify their sourcing strategy by recruiting from new locations where there’s a concentration of talent with the skill sets needed, exploring new industry networks and working with hiring managers to identify transferable skills that could lead to new sources of untapped talent, like candidates with nontraditional backgrounds.

Offer flexibility where you can

Of course, not every company has the ability to go remote. But you do have an opportunity to rethink how you bring flexibility to your HR policies. According to research from Indeed, over half of U.S. job seekers say flexibility is a top consideration when weighing a job offer, while 33% list flexibility as a crucial perk when deciding whether to apply for a role.

Hybrid work has been a popular choice for many employers. For example, Apple offers a hybrid work model to office workers and is currently testing a similar approach for its retail workers. Dropbox is now a virtual-first company that turned their offices into “studios,” which are used specifically for employee collaboration and community-building.

In this clip, Lauren shares more creative ways employers across industries can offer flexibility to their employees so they can stand out from the competition.

While our transition to the “next normal” hasn’t been easy, there is a silver lining: we’ve shaken up the status quo. By rethinking how and where we work, we’re not just meeting new workforce expectations — we’re reimagining a better world of work that can set your organization up for success, no matter what the future holds.