The last couple of decades have brought about a sea of changes for the human resources environment!
In the current digitalized environment, technology has become a game-changer for traditional HR functions and transformed the playing field. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a paradigm shift towards remote work, and technology adoption is a prime requirement for businesses to streamline their human resource workflows.
New-age HR departments have the responsibility to co-exist with technology and add value to the organization by achieving corporate goals. Understanding innovations in the HR domain are crucial to gain a first-mover advantage and create an employee-friendly workplace that thrives on inclusion and diversity. Here are some driving HR aspects that will decide the future of modern workplaces:
A Blended Workforce Will Become The Norm
Did you know that a whopping 83% of employers feel that the shift towards remote work has been positive for their company? This indicates that in the future, organizations will develop a people-centric culture that focuses on hiring the best talent, irrespective of geographical location.
HR departments need to rise to the challenge and manage teams that propagate growth, resilience, and adaptability. Whether your organization adopts full-time remote work or a blended approach, it is important to ensure all team members understand their roles and responsibilities clearly. Open the channels of communication to keep everyone connected and encourage collaboration on team projects.
A blended workforce is no longer an exception, rather the new normal. It bridges the talent gap and allows organizations to drive innovation and cut down hiring costs. Develop your unique HR strategy to maintain a sustainable and blended workforce – it’s a sure-shot way to build a collaborative workplace!
The Spotlight Will Shift Towards A Better Employee Experience
Employee experience matters!
Your employees are the lifeblood of your business – it is vital to take necessary measures to make them feel cared for and involved in daily operations.
With 64% of HR leaders making employee experience a top priority, it is important to invest in employee well-being. Health and safety are critical to providing a good employee experience; hence employers need to conduct corporate wellness programs regularly.
It is important to assess employee needs to address gaps and build a loyal workforce of satisfied employees. Conducting frequent engagement surveys, exit interviews, employee suggestion boxes, and recognition programs is an integral part of developing people-centric work culture.
Technology can help organizations in a big way! Getting automated tools such as employee engagement software and collaboration systems can enhance communication between team members to boost operational efficiency. Mapping the entire employee journey, right from the onboarding to exit, can provide companies with valuable insights and the right knowledge and tools to maintain a motivated workforce.
HR Professionals Will Reshape Employee Benefits
Employee benefits are a huge motivator!
Previously, perks like commuter allowance, free meals, and on-site day-care were valued heavily by employees. However, with the pandemic, most organizations have transitioned to a remote work model, and these employee benefits no longer hold any importance.
Companies will need to redesign their employee benefits to include health and wellness programs. Due importance should be accorded to mental support programs, and companies can also support employees by providing virtual counselling facilities.
It is time to reassess your benefits program to make informed decisions that will be valued by your employees and increase overall satisfaction. One way to do this is by conducting surveys that will give you accurate information about what new benefits employees would be happy with in the future. Have open conversations to include flexible work arrangements, health and well-being benefits to take actions that are supportive and will lead to a positive workplace environment!
Upskilling Will Gain Prominence
Undoubtedly, the skill gap has been one of the biggest concerns for HR departments for years. The misalignment between current employees’ skills and those critical for business success is a challenge for most organizations.
The solution is simple – invest in upskilling and training your workforce to grapple with the uncertainties of the dynamic business environment. Human resources professionals are responsible for conducting a detailed skill gap analysis to identify what areas need improvement and what critical skills need to be developed.
A recent survey conducted by Deloitte revealed that more than half the respondents felt that 50 to 100% of employees would need to change their skills in the next three years. Companies should develop a structured framework to identify skills required for various career levels, roles, and functions. This will help you empower your employees with new-age skills that will help them succeed in the workplace personally and professionally.
HR Departments Will Lean On Technology To Automate Workflows
Data is power!
Access to timely real-time data can help modern organizations take proactive action and enhance operational workflows. The human resources department needs to integrate artificial intelligence applications and data analytics into routine functions to save time, costs, and effort. Many AI-powered tools are available in the market that can streamline crucial HR activities such as recruitment, compensation, payroll, training, and onboarding.
Organizations across the globe are leaning on cloud-based technology to automate HR workflows and the trend is expected to rise in the future. With a rapid increase in virtual HR processes such as remote recruitment and automated onboarding, human resource teams need to adopt the latest innovations that can give a significant competitive advantage.
While technology cannot replace human intelligence, companies need to realize that the future of HR needs to be data-driven and rely on credible AI-powered tools to bring value to business objectives.
Wrapping Up
As organizations develop new strategies to manage their workforce in the post-pandemic era, human resource management will play an important role in determining business success! Data analytics and workflow automation are going to be critical factors that will reshape traditional HR functions.
Organizations need to leverage the power of new HR technologies, or they will get left behind. Building a strong, resilient workforce that can adapt to short and long-term changes is the path forward in the current digitized business ecosystem. It is the best way to increase your bottom line and create a futuristic workplace that thrives on employee engagement!
