The relationship between an employer and the staff is a two-way street. Of course it’s expected that employees will provide the knowledge and skills required to meet the needs of their position. At the same time, however, it’s good practice for employers to learn to adapt to changing trends within the workplace.

Millennials are poised to bring perhaps the biggest change to the current workforce as they begin to fill more positions. The increase not just in the prevalence of technology, but also the changes in the way these devices are used by the younger generation, has affected both the tasks carried out by employees as well as the way they’re accomplished. It’s in employers’ best interest to prepare for the ways their companies may be affected by these changes.

Technology is a major player
Workplace technology is far from a new phenomenon, but recent years have seen a drastic shift in the number and type of devices and services used in the common office. While computers and email are ubiquitous at this point, data suggests they may be on the road to obsolescence. Human Resource Executive Online noted that mobile technology, cloud computing and even mobile devices and software are becoming more common in businesses. Some companies have even gone as far as to develop their own proprietary mobile apps or Web-based dashboard to streamline work production.

“These days, people in the office are looking for instant access to great communication and collaboration tools. They expect these tools to be always on, global and available on any device, anywhere,” Cisco Collaboration senior vice president Rowan Trollope told the source.

From multitasking to supertasking
Employers have been seeking workers who are capable of multitasking for decades. It’s one of the most commonly cited traits on many resumes. However, in the age of technology and telescoping information processing times, not to mention the increased demand brought on by larger markets and smaller company rosters, means that classic notions of multitasking may no longer be enough. Now, an emerging trait is what is known as supertasking – the ability to multitask at a consistently high level of performance. Unlike most multitaskers, whose performance deteriorates as additional jobs are added, those capable of supertasking may actually see an increase in performance when taking on new tasks.

Companies that are used to more conventional business methods may struggle to adapt to the changing workforce. Especially when budgets are tight, the prospect of overhauling your company’s HR services may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, PEO companies are available to offer HR outsourcing solutions that can help your organization stay competitive without having to hire an in-house HR department.