From workspace to the gig economy, here are the top small-business trends of 2020

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By Steve Strauss

Well, it’s that time of year, boys and girls. 

Time for me to resolve to lose 20 pounds (yet again)? Yes, but that has nothing to do with small business, so no. 

Instead, it is time for our annual look at the top trends in business for the coming year. But note — this is not a prediction column, because as it turns out, I am about as good at predictions as I am at losing weight. Instead, let’s look at what is trending in business in 2020 with the intent of helping you navigate these choppy waters. 

No. 5: The way we physically work is changing

The past few years, the biggest trend in the physical way we work has been the advent of the open office. Yes, it fosters collaboration (or so they say) but it also presents a huge privacy problem.  

And that’s one reason why we have seen, for example, the rise of the phone booth in these offices.  

Jonathan Webb is vice president of workplace strategy at global furniture manufacturer KI (who has outfitted workspaces for the likes of Amazon, Disney and Microsoft.) Some of the changes Webb and his team see are really interesting: 

— Privacy is king: Only 8 percent of Gen Zers prefer open offices.  

— Personalization matters: Some big companies are making the move to unassigned seating, but Webb says that that is a mistake because what younger workers want is familiar space that they can personalize. 

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