We are going through one of the largest workplace disruptions in decades. As such, the volatility of disruptions is not going to slow down in 2022 and beyond. It is expected for new COVID variants to keep emerging while making workplaces to go remote all over again. The concept of hybrid work will be creating unevenness all around with respect to how, where, and when employees will be working within the organization.
It is also expected that more employees will be greeted with wage alterations due to rising inflation. The given realities will be placed on top of long-term technological and business transformation, ongoing political uncertainty, and so more. In the given context, let us help you know about the latest global HR trends and innovations 2022.
What Happened with the HR Industry in 2021?
2021 served to be a year of reinventing the Human Resources industry while solidifying its role. At the same time, 2022 is going to be all about extending the boundaries of how HR will be adding value.
From the shift towards a fully remote working system to multiple lockdowns, the Great Resignation, and major health concerns, the disruption to the modern economies has been quite continuous. This is why it is more important to be aware of the ongoing trends HR and technologies. It will help you to understand how you can leverage the innovations for driving change and adding more business value in 2022.
Most Important Global HR Trends for 2022
Understanding industry shifts is crucial to maintaining pace with accelerated developments that take place -especially in the realm of the ongoing pandemic. We have consulted with leading experts in the HR industry to prepare a list of the latest HR trends 2022:
#Hybrid Offices
The concept of hybrid work is here to stay. As per a recent study, it is reported that around 83 percent of workers prefer working under the hybrid office environment. Moreover, 63 percent of top-growth companies have already adopted the hybrid workforce model.
For both employers and employees, the notion of working from anywhere is all about being the owner of results -irrespective of when and how work takes place. This ensures that successful work from anywhere processes is critical for modern employers. Modern organizations are formulating policies to ensure virtual mentoring, conferences, and asynchronous brainstorming for employees working from anywhere. It will range from developing virtual communities for remote workers to making sure that everyone working remotely has access to the right collaboration tools.
#The Use of Data and Metrics
In the next few years, a strategic focus of Human Resources is improved emphasis on data. The shift to remote work due to the pandemic implies that employers have to increasingly rely on tools to analyze how productive and engaged employees are, and how to convert data insights into direction.
Data is regarded as the all-new currency with respect to the modern workforce. Data helps in providing in-depth understanding in three core areas. Firstly, it helps in showing how effective HR practices are towards adding value at the business or strategic level. Secondly, data enables HR to come across ways to improve practices and the overall employee experience. Thirdly, it allows HR to reveal how its multiple functions are aligning with commercial demands and relative strategies.
#Different Employee Experience
EX or Employee Experience is an important initiative amongst HR leaders since the past few decades. As a matter of fact, an HR leader is known to place employee experience as the topmost priority for ensuring company’s growth.
When organizations tend to focus on employee experience, it leads to:
- Improved productivity
- Better employee loyalty
- Greater employee satisfaction
- Boosted investment in the vision of the company
The association between the overall increase in automation and employee experience is helpful in delivering personalized solutions. It also delivers ample information for the entire workforce in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. HR is expected to focus on the core HR practices while understanding how these can be improved for the entire workforce.
#The Role of AI
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the modern hiring market. It helps in automating specific HR tasks while creating new job requirements that need in-demand skills. The capability of demonstrating one’s competency in the all-new recruitment skills is becoming the foundation for ensuring talent mobility.
Based on the revolutionary AI technology, a number of companies are piloting the importance of skill-based hiring. Skill-based recruitment helps in expanding the pool of prospective talent. Moreover, it also allows internal employees to harness opportunities towards achieving better career mobility. In the process, AI-backed services can provide employees with relevant educational pathways for specific job functions or industries.
#Emphasis on Diversity and Inclusion
One of the major benefits of the hybrid era of working is ease of access to diverse and more qualified talent. The concept of Diversity and Inclusion has evolved significantly since the time of 2021. Moreover, it has also led to the improved concept of DEI or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
A sense of belonging at work helps in adding to the overall DEI equation. Matters regarding diversity and inclusion have become major parts of HR discussions as HR professionals aim at addressing issues related to unfair wages, bias, and other common problems.
How to Adapt?
2021 and 2022 have revealed themselves to be years of major transformation. As we continue moving forward, a new landscape will emerge. The move to digital is going to be more significant as organizations around the world aim at transforming in the all-new face of evolving challenges, harnessing data to improve practices, create alignment, and deliver value. HR will also aid in the process of driving success with the help of guidance while taking the outside-in approach.
Conclusion
With a future-proof and proactive HR, organizations can evolve rapidly. This is why HR professionals are expected to build on the respective success in 2022 and beyond to include more value to their businesses.