Sodexo, Gaithersburg, Md., released its 2018 Global Workplace Trends report, featuring fresh insights to global workforce leaders and decision makers. The report highlights the most critical factors affecting the future of work, and demonstrates how an improved workplace experience is key to increasing companies' performance and better employee engagement.

This year's report focuses on seven interconnected topics with an overarching unifying theme—the need for collective intelligence across all workplace domains.

• Getting ready for Gen Z. With high expectations around technology and flexibility, while paying close attention to well-being and quality of life, Gen Z is reshaping the workplace in new and exciting ways for all generations.
• The Internet of Things shapes the future for workplace. IoT-supported workplace environments are an opportunity to operate and engage businesses and employees in a more effective manner by improving comfort in physical spaces, flexibility, precision in the process, and ultimately, quality of life.
• Creating the emotionally intelligent workplace. Emotional intelligence has become a core skillset for many of today’s high-performing organizations and leaders. The workplace itself can be emotionally intelligent – by allowing people to bring their full spectrum of emotions to work and aligning their fundamental human needs and motivations.
• Re-imagining resources in the sharing economy. Forward-thinking organizations are redefining their business models to leverage the benefits of the sharing economy.
• Moving the needle of gender balance. To create a gender intelligent workplace, companies must examine the barriers that are holding back women and implement a cultural transformation driven by inclusive leaders.
• Human capital management 3.0. Human capital management (HCM) 3.0 brings all different technologies and programs (learning, recognition, wellness) together to transform the work experience into the life experience. HCM aims to enhance the employee experience and help organizations perform at their best.
• Employees’ new change for corporate responsibility. Employees are now key stakeholders when it comes to shaping CR strategies. It is important for companies to give their workforce a voice, enabling them to feel fulfilled while working toward a better future for all.