With everything that 2020 has thrown at us, many employers are now opting flexible workplace approach. This comes on the heels of “working from home” we all had to experience during the year that passed. And this practice is believed to continue in the year 2021 and beyond as numerous companies have reaped the benefits. According to timedoctor.com, a business management blog, the next wave of workplace flexibility will be about providing flexibility when to work along with where to work. In 2022, there will be a rise of jobs where employees will no longer have to work based on a fixed schedule instead will be assigned a set of tasks/objectives/outputs to achieve.

Mental health can exert massive impacts on the business and the economy at large. Harvard Business Review once noted that “$4 is returned to the economy for every $1 spent caring for people with mental health issues.” As we discussed last week, even though mental health can be a topic that is frowned upon or joked about at the workplace and changes are only gradual, various studies show that people would rather work for employers that champion mental health and well-being. And this is applicable for all generations. A study by a UK-based firm, Peldon Rose, found that 76% Gen Zs, 73% Millennials, 75% Gen Xs and 56% Baby Boomers prioritize mental health and well-being over other causes.

The prevailing trend among companies over the last few years was to increase the number of paternity/maternity leave days for their employees. Now as a result of the pandemic, businesses have understood the criticality of psychological well-being. Numerous organizations have already made great strides toward eradicating the dogma and increase mindfulness about psychological illness and urge more employees to reach out for help, if needed. In the wake of the rapidly climbing suicides rates, there is also an increase in employee stress and depression. Such conditions are driving up medical care costs, as indicated by Aetna Behavioral Health. In the near future, bosses will have to work to de-stigmatize mental health by extending mental health benefits such as increasing “Days-off to take care of one’s mental well-being” and supporting different activities to improve the emotional well-being of their employees.