It’s no secret that the Tampa Bay area is currently experiencing unprecedented entrepreneurial growth. Some news outlets are referring to this growing trend as a “tech boom,” in Tampa Bay. A recent Forbes article dubbed Tampa as “one of the most startup-friendly cities in America.”
Prestigious hospitals, universities, cultural diversity, and an excellent quality of life add to the desirability of Tampa, which is largely considered a welcoming business environment.
As a result, there are more jobs and opportunities than ever before in the region – and many of them are positions in tech.
As workplaces in the area (and across the country) grow and change, many Tampa Bay employers are considering ways to increase employee creativity, productivity, and collaboration – and strategies to attract and retain top talent.
In the midst of the “great resignation,” this is no easy feat.
With 2022 fast approaching, we want to break down what this tech business boom means for employers, employees, and job seekers in the Tampa Bay area. Here are some workplace trends you can expect to see in 2022 and beyond.
Flexibility and Rethinking Workspaces
Flexible Work:
The pandemic changed the way we work – maybe forever. As employees were forced to work from home, employers had to find ways to measure their productivity without seeing people at desks – and it was surprisingly effective. In fact, many employers report increased productivity from their employees when they work from home. Recent indicate that working from home can boost productivity by more than 13% in just a few months, and that statistic continues to rise.
As pandemic concerns evolve over time with increased vaccinations and the existence of new boosters, some companies may try to bring employees back into the office – sometimes. The “new normal” will likely include more options for employees for how and where they work. More employers will prioritize flexibility and creative environments, not strict 9-5 desk schedules.
A New Approach to Workspace:
Coworking spaces have become much more popular across America during the pandemic, and this trend is expected to grow. Renting coworking spaces for employees is much less costly than leasing an entire office or building, and many coworking spaces have multiple locations, so employees can skip the commute and work at the location most convenient for them.
Coworking spaces are often designed for collaboration, creativity, and connection – with bean bag chairs, standing desks, coffee bars, and even chess boards and games. Working in new and interesting environments can help boost productivity and creativity, and many employees find that coworking spaces help encourage collaborative teamwork.
In Tampa, Embarc Collective, Bay 3 at Armature Works and Hyde House in Hyde Park are three popular coworking spaces that many employers are utilizing to enrich their team’s work experience. These coworking spaces are very popular amongst startups and tech companies, so employees can enjoy getting to know other like-minded people in the area. Many new coworking spaces have a modern, cutting-edge feel, and many employees are excited about the new approach to “workspace.” So much so, in fact, that some employers are re-thinking and re-designing their office layouts to closely resemble coworking space.
In St. Petersburg, Station House coworking space and business club is aiming to combine “work” and “life” with a hip, modern workspace and relaxation space for employees to enjoy. Rising Tide Innovation center helps members get to know each other, so employees can network with other local professionals.
Hybrid Schedules:
Hybrid schedules that accommodate a healthy work-life balance are becoming more popular in all industries. A hybrid schedule might mean working some hours in a workspace and some hours in your home office, or it might mean working from 10-2, picking up kids from school, and finishing up later in the evening.
In 2022, we can expect to see a significant increase in the ways that employers and employees prioritize flexibility in a work week. Hybrid schedules can help prevent burnout, allow employees to make the most of their time, and encourage a healthier approach to fitting work into life. They can also help employees prevent long commutes, enjoy their time at work more, and increase productivity. Many employees work better at their own pace with a hybrid schedule, and employers can reap the benefits of both in-person work and remote work.
In a recent Tampa Bay Times article, reports indicate that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 may delay many companies’ plans to bring employees back in-office full-time, so the hybrid schedule is here to stay in 2022 – and perhaps for good.
Focus on Employee Experience
According to recent research, up to 88% of employees prioritize flexibility when looking for a new role. 76% of employees believe that their employer should prioritize work-life balance. More job seekers than ever say they want to work for an organization that prioritizes outcomes over output – meaning that employees want to feel like they’re worth more than just numbers to a company.
The Bottom Line?
Your employees need to feel seen, heard, prioritized, and valuable to your organization.
If they don’t, there’s a very high likelihood that you’ll lose them to other offers. In September of 2021, 4.4 million people in America left their jobs to pursue other opportunities. There are more options for employees than ever before, which should highly motivate employers to think about new ways to keep employees happy, engaged, and balanced.
The Augmented Workforce
‘Gig work’ will begin to bleed into organizations as they seek to offer new opportunities and experiences for workers. This will likely change the way that projects are coordinated, since in-house employees will be working more frequently with fractional workers. Fractional workers will be seen as valued team members to help complete projects and scale your current team. During the great resignation, if you lose team members or find it hard to bring on talent, consider freelancers or fractional workers to help fill the gaps on your team.
Additionally, employers are creating more flexibility than ever with projects so in-house employees are able to reap some of the benefits common with “gig work,” like increased independence, more time to work on tasks, higher pay, and more engaging work.
Expanding Talent Pools:
In 2022, many workplaces will expand their talent pools across the U.S. – even the world. Even if your workplace has a central location, many employers are realizing that all employees don’t need to be located in the same space. This allows them to consider top talent from anywhere, which may be crucial in a time when it’s just harder to find and retain talent.
If you’re struggling to fill your team with local candidates, consider which roles on the team could be remote. This tactic is helping employers meet the needs of their teams and employees much more quickly, and they’re able to access applicants that they wouldn’t have prior.
Supplementing your local team with remote talent means that workplaces will have to take a “remote first” approach to work and prioritize video conference systems like Zoom and Teams. Coordinating time zones will also be a factor, since it’s necessary for team members to collaborate in real time. While it may require more up-front planning, a geographically- diverse workforce can bring fresh new ideas, approaches, and energy to your unique team.