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The New Trends That Will Define How We Work in 2023 and Beyond

By Karen Scarpetta - WeWork Latam
Regional General Manager

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Karen Scarpetta By Karen Scarpetta | Regional General Manager - Thu, 02/23/2023 - 13:00

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The world of work continues to be transformed as organizations across the globe let go of their traditional approach and start conversations about new ways of working and collaborating. We’ve come to understand that companies and individuals have different priorities and needs. The good news is that each company can redefine its working scheme based on its own experience.

After the profound transformation and lessons brought up by the pandemic, many expected a massive wave of workers returning to the office in Latin America and worldwide. But this didn’t materialize as expected. 

Whether it’s fully remote, hybrid, or in-person work, companies are designing new workplace strategies. And while many organizations are mandating full-time returns to the office, many companies — large and small, are experimenting with flexible office space to facilitate hybrid work models. 

At WeWork, we’ve watched thousands of companies transitioning to new flexible models. Based on everything we’ve witnessed over the last few years in Latin America and around the world, these are the top trends we see cementing in 2023:

"Anywhere Office" or "Work from Anywhere"

The "anywhere office" refers to the possibility of working from any location with the minimum necessary conditions to work. Digital nomads are the most obvious example; but even without working while traveling around the world, you can adopt the "work from anywhere" model and use services like WeWork that offer the necessary infrastructure closer to home or wherever you need it. I myself identify as a “WeWork digital nomad” as most of the time I’m traveling around Latin America, switching buildings according to my schedule.

Cross-Border Staff or the “Anywhere Worker”

The "anywhere worker" trend refers to the decentralization of offices, the boom in international hiring, and the transition of office spaces into a network of spaces and services. 

This dynamic became a trend during the pandemic thanks to the transformation of work models, the slowdown of the labor market in recent years, and the search for a better quality of life. In 2023, the startup sector is the one showing the greatest interest in this trend; in Latin America, 3 out of 5 respondents belonging to startUps claim to be interested and open to hiring people or working with professionals residing in other countries, according to the study "Beyond the Hybrid Revolution", conducted by WeWork and Page Resourcing.

The Rise of the “Chief Remote Officer”

Now is the time, as we redefine our post-pandemic organization, to pay careful attention to the impact of our choices on organizational norms and culture, and focus on the ties that bind our people together. With new challenges coming up as companies migrate to hybrid or remote work, we need to secure an even playground for teams working on different work schemes.

Some companies are choosing to create new roles or leaders dedicated solely to making hybrid or remote work thrive throughout the organization. These profiles may have different titles, but all are tasked with protecting the employee experience regardless of work model and addressing the complex issues that arise from the new ways of working. 

Flex Space as HR Benefit

After one of the most challenging periods of corporate reinvention in recent decades, the priorities and demands of employees have changed. The labor scheme and the benefits package are some of the dimensions that have become more relevant. In fact, after salary, these two elements are the main reasons why people from Latin America choose a job.

Given this scenario and the new demands for flexibility, companies are seeing the workplace as another HR benefit that could significantly improve their strategy to attract talent. In this regard, WeWork launched its All Access Pass membership, designed for companies to offer coworking spaces to their employees as part of their benefits package, in the same way that they offer food vouchers or other benefits. Workspace and working models are set to be the most wanted benefits of the post-pandemic workforce.

Beyond a Good Salary, We Demand More Freedom

A few years ago the most common question in a job interview was where is the office located? Today, the most common question is, "What work scheme do you offer?” For more than 70% of people in Latin America, the work scheme is already one of the main reasons why they would choose one job over another. 

People want more freedom over when, how, and where they work; we want to define what best works for our lives and our purpose. Even younger generations are not demanding higher salaries without asking for a psychological, social and work wellness system that recognizes our abilities and offers a healthy environment to work, connect and thrive.

Above all, we must capitalize on every lesson we inherit from the pandemic and make sure our organizations are well-equipped to face an evolving world of work. Embracing change and adopting a flexible mindset will make all the difference.

Photo by:   Karen Scarpetta

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