The year 2021 was all about redefining human resources, primarily due to the challenges brought up by the pandemic. However, 2022 is expected to find newer ways and enhance existing ones to make HR add more value to organizations and people. Several HR trends in 2022 are expected to change the way HR works and contribute to the growth of an organization.
Most HR professionals agree that nothing has seen more changes in the last couple of years than the way they used to work before the pandemic. Also, most HR professionals believe that other than the HR department, there is no other department that has had to deal with the immense pressure of coping with these changes and, at the same time, not affecting the business continuity of their organization. The changes have come thick and fast, and the HR department has had to be at the top of their game to deal with those.
Some of the changes that HR professionals managed to take in their stride and not let their organizations suffer include the shift to remote working and then hybrid working models, the Great Resignation, the Great Reopening, health concerns of employees working from home, and the disruption caused in the functioning of organizations. The knowledge of these changes and the challenges associated with them that several organizations still have to deal with make the awareness about HR trends all the more critical.
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Knowing about the HR trends for 2022 will make it easier for HR teams to make the most of them and add value to their business not only in 2022 but beyond.
- One of the HR trends expected to be adopted by HR professionals across the board involves gaining a competitive advantage by helping employees build and upgrade skills. This trend has been around for several years, but the need to incorporate it hasn’t been as dire for HR professionals as it is now. Due to the pandemic, it became tough for organizations to employ talent beyond geographical boundaries. And there was a lack of talent with multi-faceted skills. That resulted in a significant rise in encouraging employees to develop skills. Organizations also realized the importance of predicting skills that will be in demand in the future to ensure that they are not left wanting when the need arises. So, organizations and HR professionals are now not considering hiring new people. They are emphasizing the upskilling and development of their own.
- Another HR trend that is being discussed in HR circles worldwide is the global adoption of the hybrid way of working. The hybrid work model was once a forced change due to the pandemic, but it is now fast emerging as the future of work owing to the benefit it offers both employers and employees. Many organizations have already adopted this work model and are allowing their employees to work remotely and on-site. And others are planning to do it in the next few months. The hybrid work model enables organizations to empower their employees and, at the same time, increase engagement during work hours. It also shifts the focus from work location to employee productivity. If employees are productive, their work location shouldn’t be a matter of concern for employers or HR.
- The pandemic, the uncertainty around it, and the change in the work model significantly impacted employees’ mental health worldwide. This is why employee wellness is one of the top HR trends for 2022. This is the time for employers to take responsibility and make the health of their employees their top priority. No wonder many organizations have already taken the first step. Research by the Global Wellness Institute reveals that more than 60% of employers have increased their budget for mental health programs for employees. And this is one trend that will be there for more than a few years. And employers focusing on the health and wellbeing of their employees can look forward to several benefits in return. They will have a healthy and capable workforce of giving it their all for helping them achieve business goals. Another advantage of introducing employee wellness programs is increased employee engagement, leading to a better employee experience. The responsibility of HR professionals is to encourage employees to take their health seriously. Organizations can go the extra mile and offer their employees free access to mental health counselling sessions.
- No HR trends list is complete without the mention of diversity and inclusion. And this is the reason a recent study by Gartner revealed that more than 40% of HR professionals are looking forward to adding to their diversity and inclusion spending. HR professionals need to understand what diversity and inclusion are and how they can benefit their organization. Only after having proper knowledge of the concept will they be able to make the investment count. Organizations that want to continue growing need to hire people based on their skills and talent and not on the basis of their beliefs, gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, or socioeconomic background amongst other things. This diverse pool of talent offers organizations access to a wide variety of skills and brings different perspectives to the table.
- People analytics is also a critical HR trend for the future. Data and insights related to the workforce allow businesses to make informed decisions to increase overall productivity. And that’s why organizations are using analytics to assist in decision-making related to improving employee engagement, reducing employee attrition, and reducing HR costs, amongst other things. People analytics have also transformed several HR practices in the last two years.
References:
- Top 5 HR Trends and Priorities for 2022 | Gartner
- Top 10 Future HR Trends 2022 | Empxtrack | November 3, 2021
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