by Julie Desmond

People returning to work after a year or more off, brace yourselves. The only thing certain in the workplace today is change, and yesterday’s work environment has seen a lot of it. In response to rapidly developing technologies, changing demands of workers, and corporate budgets forced to wise up, the office of 2011 in many companies looks and feels very different than the cubes and corner offices we’re used to.

Expect to see changes in your co-workers. Companies are rebuilding and hiring from a deep pool of applicants. A department or team might encompass workers representing three or even four generations of workers, from new grads with social media savvy and low salary demands to highly skilled mid-level workers and experienced, dependable seniors who planned to retire, but now must work to recoup savings lost during the recession. Every generation has much to offer; be open to the 23-somethings as well as the silver foxes around you, and strive to appreciate each one’s perspective.

Expect to see a more racially diverse workforce, as well. Whether America is the world’s melting pot or its salad bowl, the fact remains that the people around us hail from every corner of the earth, bringing diverse skills and talents to the workplace. People who can learn from those around them will realize success more quickly and more completely than those who stick to their own kind.

Expect innovation. Companies that keep up with world change will be able to compete in a global market. The products your company creates, services and sells will change frequently over the next several years. Be ready to adjust. In 1894, Milton S. Hershey likely didn’t lay awake at night imagining a line of sugar-free chocolate bars. Businesses – and employees – will need to adapt to survive.

Expect changes in physical work environments. Companies including General Mills, American Medical Systems and others are developing cooperative workspaces that allow for more efficient use of office real estate as well as improved life balance for employees. In these settings, you might be issued a locker, a phone passcode, and a laptop, but not a specific desk in which to stash your mints and display your mementos.

New work environments allow for more flexible work schedules, but not necessarily fewer hours. As Dave McGinty, facilities manager for American Medical Systems explains, “We hire you to do a fulltime job.” In many cases, where and when that work happens is incidental. Flexible scheduling requires maturity on the part of employees. Without a time card or clock to punch, employee focus and productivity naturally improve: when you’re working, you’re working and when you’re not, your employee status in the company computer reads, “Not available.”

Working with flexible schedules, managers can no longer gauge employee performance based on hours spent in the building. This means communication, accountability and metrics also have to change. Expect a wider array of phones, computer systems, video technology and more to learn about and to use. Expect to plan ahead for meetings and to trouble shoot independently sometimes. At IBM, workers so rarely appear in some offices, employees joke the acronym stands for “I’m by myself.” Expect that a manager who can’t see and hear how you work every day might have endless questions about specific situations, and you will need to communicate clearly across all levels of your company.

Expect more stringent metrics: numbers-based, measurable goals and a magnifying glass will become common in the 2011 workplace and beyond. Of course, goals and budgets are not new to corporate America; the difference is, without other criteria to go on, these measurements will become critical to decision making in tomorrow’s workplace.

If you haven’t been at work in a while, don’t be intimidated by what seems completely foreign to your way of thinking. Go in with your eyes wide open, and realize that new for you is new for others, too. The company that hires you wants you to succeed and will provide you with training and tools. Ask questions and commit to learning. If you can embrace innovation, your best asset is going to be your ability to adapt.

Julie Desmond has fifteen years recruiting and career counseling experience. She currently leads job search workshops in Minneapolis, MN. Write to Julie@helpwantedworkshop.com.