Bridget Loudon Top 10 Workplace Trends for 2015 Interview

Bridget Loudon Top 10 Workplace Trends for 2015 Interview

Australian workplaces are changing. How we work is changing. Expert 360, the country's leading online platform matching professional freelancers with short term business projects, has looked into its crystal ball for 2015 to predict the top ten workplace trends for this year.

Continuous job searching
The days of staying at one company for 30 years and receiving a cheap watch on your last day are over. Employees are constantly on the lookout for the next job. Networking is the new norm and the ever-present FOMO (fear of missing out) keeps everyone engaged. Smart businesses recognise this and nurture this desire to excel, realising that hoarding employees will hurt the business in the long run.

More millennials stepping up as boss
It's easy to judge millennials as lazy, over-educated know-it-alls and the social-loafers of society. But beneath this façade is a generation of young individuals who crave the opportunity to take on leadership positions. A recent study revealed 72% of millennials would like to be their own boss. They have grown up amid the GFC and high youth unemployment – as well as the rise of start-ups and billion dollar valuations. The rise of young guns such as Zuckerberg shows that there is a place for young people to lead.

Casual Wear
Women on the street are now wearing LuluLemon and Lorna Jane with no intention of going to the gym. Yoga pants are now acceptable work attire. Casual Fridays now extend across the working week. Ties on men are in permanent hibernation. Underlying this trend is a need to express individuality at work. Google is a star in this space, with their casual work attire, zen zones and free food. Ultimately this leads to increased productivity and innovation.

Internships
By 2020, 40% of the total working population will be millennials and internships are crucial in giving them that first taste of the working world. The vast majority of businesses are recognising the unique characteristics of this generation - entrepreneurial, risk-taking and flexible - leveraging these qualities to add value to the business. Emerging trends in internships have seen the rise of virtual internships within the financial and consulting industries. Recent legislation in Australia and abroad reflects the importance of internships as a legitimate form of employment.

Working remotely
Gone are the days of being chained to your desk from 9-5. With the advent of technology and more flexible working arrangements, workers are online at all hours of the day. In our super connected world, the bricks and mortar of workplaces aren't required for employees to properly do their jobs

Fast talent turnaround

Remember the days where you circled an ad in the Saturday paper, sent your CV to the company by post and waited a few weeks for them to write back? We don't either. Companies want to connect with the right candidate and hire much faster than ever before. It won't be long until the Tinder for recruitment disrupts the market!

Work is deeply personal
-Work life integration' is a phrase we will definitely be hearing more about Instead of trying to balance the two separate spheres in our lives, work is now deeply personal. Our professional and personal lives are inextricably linked - where we want to see value of what we do.

Cultural fit - hiring for cultural reasons
Cultural fit and character are now taking the front seat as top employer considerations when assessing potential candidates, with many adopting the -hire character, train skill' approach. The importance of cultural fit is part of our multi-generational workforce of today. With Millennials and baby boomers working alongside each other, making sure there is alignment on the values and vision of the company is critical in bridging that age gap.

Talent development key to retention
Corporate loyalty is a thing of the past and one way employers are responding in order to retail their star employees is through talent development programs. While these were previously reserved for those at the top of the pyramid, we are seeing career development programs and skill workshops at every level of the corporate hierarchy.

The rise of the freelancer
30% of Australians are now undertaking some form of flexible freelance work. If we follow US trends, by 2020, this number is expected to rise to 50%. Technology has been one of the main drivers behind this trend, making it easy for businesses to connect to talent on demand.

Interview with Bridget Loudon, the CEO of Expert 360

Question: How have Australian workplaces changed over the past ten years?

Bridget Loudon: The days of staying at one company for 30 years and receiving a gold watch on your last day are over. Employees are constantly on the lookout for the next job; millennials are looking for opportunities to be their own boss; casual wear such as yoga pants are now acceptable work attire, while ties on men are in permanent hibernation; there has been a rise in internships; a rise in working remotely; and freelancing is becoming a job preference.


Question: How much will Australian workplaces change from 2014 to 2015?

Bridget Loudon: I think the biggest change will be seen in employer hiring intentions. While we are clearly seeing Australian workers opting for more flexibility, in 2015 we are seeing more employers realising the value in short term contractors.

Employers are looking for access to skills, greater savings, speed of hiring, and ease of onboarding. Freelancers offer relevant skills without the large overheads and extensive recruitment processes associated with full-time employees.


Question: Why do you think we are continuously looking for the next step in our career?

Bridget Loudon: Networking has become such an important part of our working lives, that opportunities for new and better jobs are always on the radar for Australian workers. Australians are always looking to improve their position, they are ambitious and have a desire to succeed. We also have a fear of missing out (FOMO) which keeps everyone engaged. Smart businesses are recognising this and nurturing this desire to excel, realising that hoarding employees will hurt the business in the long run.


Question: What are your thoughts regarding casual work wear?

Bridget Loudon: I think it leads to increased productivity and innovation. Google is a star in this space, with their casual work attire, zen zones and free food. Women on the street are now wearing LuluLemon and Lorna Jane with no intention of going to the gym. Yoga pants are now acceptable work attire. Casual Fridays now extend across the working week. Ties on men are in permanent hibernation. Underlying this trend is a need to express individuality at work.


Question: Will the amount of time we spend working continue to increase?

Bridget Loudon: We will spend about the same number of hours working but these days, it's all about working smarter. Technology has and is helping us get through more work and become more efficient. In addition, working smarter allows for an added degree of flexibility in working hours - freelancers enjoy the freedom of working remotely without the structured 9-5 time frame.


Question: What are the advantages of an internship?
Bridget Loudon: Offering internships is a very practical way of accessing emerging talent. By 2020, 40% of the total working population will be millennials and internships are crucial in giving them that first taste of the working world. The vast majority of businesses are recognising the unique characteristics of this generation - entrepreneurial, risk-taking and flexible - leveraging these qualities to add value to the business. Emerging trends in internships have seen the rise of virtual internships within the financial and consulting industries. Recent legislation in Australia and abroad reflects the importance of internships as a legitimate form of employment.


Question: Why do you believe there has been a rise in the freelancer?

Bridget Loudon: One of the main drivers behind the rise in the freelancer has been technology. It has made it easy for businesses to connect with talent on demand. 30% of Australians are now undertaking some form of flexible freelance work. If we follow US trends, by 2020, this number is expected to rise to 50%.

Freelancing is a win/win scenario. It's cost effective for the employer and for the worker – the contract might be especially lucrative. If the employee is good, they'll continue to pick up work on the next project.


Question: Is this related to the statistic that '72% of millennials would like to be their own boss"?

Bridget Loudon: Definitely, freelancing helps millennials to build their own business and become their own boss. Workers are embracing flexibility and looking to capture a greater share of the value they create rather than having 80 per cent of that go to their employer.

There is now a generation of young individuals who crave the opportunity to take on leadership positions. A recent study revealed 72% of millennials would like to be their own boss. They have grown up amid the GFC and high youth unemployment – as well as the rise of start-ups and billion dollar valuations. The rise of young guns such as Zuckerberg shows that there is a place for young people to lead.


Question: What's the number one advice you give to your freelancers?

Bridget Loudon: Be flexible.


Question: Which of the trends surprises you the most?

Bridget Loudon: I'm surprised that it's taken this long for the concept of freelancing to take off, but now that it has, it's here to stay.


Interview by Brooke Hunter