Human resources industry trends are always evolving and adapting as the world around us changes. The coronavirus pandemic which began in 2020 forced all industries to adapt to new restrictions, including human resources. At the time it was quite difficult for a lot of businesses and industries to change, but it has given a great number of industries the ability to pivot quickly when necessary and even be able to work from home, or even anywhere in the world.
The human resources industry has been changing and evolving prior to the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, and will continue to change long into the future. Considering the fast-moving nature of the industry, it can be difficult to keep up with the trends. Check out our list of the top 7 human resources trends we think will gain traction in 2022.
HR Trends 2022
1. Hybrid working is here to stay
The pandemic forced any industry that could work from home, to work from home. Even though there were many businesses that accepted these mandates kicking and screaming, all industries are better for it now. Businesses that were hesitant about allowing working from home as an option have now seen its benefits, and some of these include:
- Workers have extra time in their day by avoiding a commute to work
- Increased job satisfaction
- A more relaxed environment
- Even increased productivity!
2. Employees become the number one priority
Onset from the pandemic, the worldwide phenomenon known as ‘the great resignation’ swept the working world. It originated in the US and Americans by the millions were quitting their jobs. Restrictions gave employees time to evaluate their priorities, and it seems as though working an unfulfilling role wasn’t at the top of the list for a lot of them.
Because of this, employers now have to make their employees their number one priority. Employees are no longer afraid to quit, so if they are in an unsatisfying work environment they are more likely to attempt to find a satisfying one. Employers will have to improve salaries, benefits, and more to make sure they are able to retain their talented employees.
3. Human resources technology trends
Human resources have begun and will continue to lean on technology to help automate some of their processes. Largely, the recruiting and onboarding process will gain the most value from having parts of the process automated. Increasing automation doesn’t mean replacing recruiters, but it allows them to spend their time doing more quality work, and less repetitive tasks. An example of what this could look like is automating processes like manual resume screening, or even setting up automatic interview scheduling. Giving this time back to your employees will allow them to work on more engaging tasks, which can help with improving job satisfaction.
4. Increased rates of diversity and inclusion
Companies are continuing to recognise the importance of hiring and implementing diverse teams within their organisation. Having a variety of people from different backgrounds, with different experiences is going to give your organisation varying perspectives on problems. These different types of thinking will often lead your team to find more innovative and creative solutions to problems. Utilising Whole Brain® Thinking within your organisation could lead to benefits like:
- Increased creativity
- Innovative solutions
- Reduced employee turnover
- Improved problem solving
- Better communication
5. Upskilling employees
Organisations who prioritise the training and development of their employees become much more adaptable to change, but also will gain a great competitive advantage against other businesses within the same industry. This digital era we live in makes the need for constant training necessary because the tools we use in our everyday work life are constantly changing and evolving, so we have no choice but to keep up.
Hiring new employees comes with many costs, with these expenses usually coming from the hiring and onboarding process. Once a new hire is in the company, it will take them time to understand the work culture, the ins and outs of their team, and just to feel comfortable. But upskilling your current employees comes at a far smaller cost than hiring someone new. By investing in and expanding the skillsets of your current employees, your organisation will become more diverse, agile, adaptable, and well-rounded.
6. Further mental health support
People are becoming far more informed about mental health and the challenges that come with it. Employers will prioritise creating a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. Creating a good work environment is beneficial for the entire organisation. Not only because is it the right thing to do, but it will also:
- Reduce costs around employee absenteeism
- Minimise stress and improve staff morale
- Achieve greater staff loyalty
Ways that an organisation can help support their employees with mental health issues can go far beyond just creating a great working environment. Education is a great resource that needs to be better used by organisations to teach their employees what mental health is, how to look after your own, and places where you can seek support if you need it. Education around the subject of mental health will be in line with any good and moral organisation that wants to better all of the people within it.
7. Whole Brain® Thinking and Human Resources
At Herrmann, we empower employees and HR professionals to use Whole Brain® Thinking to ensure a real and lasting impact when improving workplace diversity and culture. Knowing how your workers think gives HR the best opportunity to create a thriving work environment that retains its talent, improves efficiency, and increase job satisfaction. The HBDI® will identify your employees preferred approach to emotional, analytical, structural, and strategic thinking.
If you want to learn more about how Whole Brain® Thinking and the HBDI® can help you and your organisation, have a look at how it works here or get in touch and we’ll help you find the right solution.