The US Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE) has identified six workforce trends to watch in 2021. Two of the key predicted trends revolve around embracing a holistic approach to employee wellbeing, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.
SLGE’s recent research reveals trends and identifies key challenges and opportunities facing state and local government bodies and public sector organisations in the year ahead. It offers insights into what strategies to monitor as organisations of all sizes strive to attract and retain talented staff.
TOP WORKPLACE TRENDS
The most important workforce trends to watch in 2021, according to SLGE, include:
- Embracing a holistic approach to employee wellbeing: Public sector employers will embrace a holistic approach to employee wellbeing through expanded financial wellness programmes; increasing their understanding of employee benefit preferences; and evaluating the impact of structural change to retirement benefits on retirement security.
- Developing a diverse and inclusive workforce: As public sector employers work to attract and retain a talented workforce of the future, they will look to ensure that their workforce is diverse and inclusive. The workforce must be more reflective of the populations it serves; and take into account the disproportionate health and economic impacts of Covid-19 on racial and ethnic groups.
- Strengthening the post-pandemic workplace: The public sector will continue to address the impact of Covid-19 on employers and employees. Additionally, it must also identify a balance between remote work environments and more traditional approaches for a wider range of positions, while expanding the use of flexible work practices more generally.
- Implementing innovative staffing practices and collaborative approaches: Budget challenges and increased service demands will incentivise state and local organisations to assess current staffing levels, project future needs, expand the use of innovative staffing practices, and collaborate with other organisations.
- Focusing on financial wellness: Given the impact the pandemic has had on individuals’ personal finances, employee financial education programmes will expand to cover more topics. In addition, it must leverage enhanced communications methods, while evolving to more specifically meet the needs of more employees.
- Expanding workforce management tools: The comprehensiveness and fiscal sustainability of public retirement plans will continue to be a central focus for workforce management tools. It’s also vital to explore new approaches for providing benefits, including retiree health care.
2021 WORKFORCE ISSUES
Trust and inclusion will also be vital for corporate success in 2021, according to predictions by The Workforce Institute at UKG. Click here to read more.
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