Workplace Evolution: 10 Years of Change (New HR Survey)

What has changed in your life over the last decade? Without knowing you or your life, I’ll take a daring guess: A whole lot! Ten years is always a long time, but in an era of constantly evolving technology, the past ten years have brought unusually significant changes. (Good heavens, ten years ago there were still no iPhones, Facebook was not yet publicly accessible, and no one questioned the colors of a dress!) That’s exactly why we have compiled some questions and survey results on HR topics from 2006 and compared them with today’s answers.

Much has changed in the last decade – clearly – but how have the things that really matter to employees and employers changed? For example, has the work environment improved? Do employees feel better managed today than they did back then? And are people more or less stressed today than ten years ago? This survey provides answers to these and many more questions.

Below you can see some excerpts from the four infographics. If you want all the information, download the survey summary and the infographics to see how far we have come in the last decade (and where the journey might go in the coming years).

Use of electronic media

In 2006, over half of employers reported monitoring their employees' emails. By 2016, this number had dropped to 29 percent. Ironically, employers often refrain from doing so at a time when the NSA has broader powers to search our emails. This probably indicates increased trust and greater autonomy for employees.

Employee Satisfaction

Employers are increasingly supporting their employees in believing in their professional development. The proportion of employees who agree or strongly agree that they have opportunities for advancement with their current employer has increased by 14 percent over the past ten years. In addition, 21 percent more people say they prefer their current job over a comparable position elsewhere.

How much has the world of work changed in the last ten years? Find out.

Work environment

In 2006, half of the employees surveyed said they came up with their best ideas at their desks. Today, it's only 27 percent. Given an increasingly location-independent and mobile work environment, this may not be very surprising. However, there are some other places where inspiration can arise.

Stress and anxiety in the workplace

Employees are in better condition today than they were ten years ago. Five percent more employees reduce stress through exercise. Conversely, 19 percent fewer employees than ten years ago turn to food to cope with work-related stress. Overall, this means that more people today relieve stress through exercise (38 percent) than through food (36 percent).

The survey results confirm a fundamental shift in the modern workplace over the last decade: a move toward greater employee autonomy (less email monitoring), increased focus on career development, and healthier stress management methods. These positive trends underscore the importance of HR platforms that facilitate this trust and growth. IceHrm directly supports this modern ethos by providing tools for transparent Performance Management (driving that 14% increase in advancement opportunities) and secure, self-service HR operations, reinforcing employee trust and autonomy. By embracing these digital solutions, companies can effectively align their HR practices with the evolving expectations of today’s workforce, ensuring they continue to improve engagement and well-being in the decade to come.