With increasing speed, advances in technology have shifted the way human resources are handled in the workplace. As we enter 2015, HR professionals find themselves fully entrenched in an era of complex and ever-shifting business, which requires more of them.
The true strategic HR pro should step back and take a look at the bigger picture. By identifying trends and threats, they have a fresh opportunity to develop superior HR plans.
- Talent shortages will continue to be a problem.
Are the wrong applicants hurting your ability to find the right people? Maybe your current processes are restricting the “right” candidate from finding you. Perhaps technology – or, rather, the lack thereof – has limited your access to deeper portions of the talent pool. In 2015, consider a solution that creates a better experience for candidates and you. The right tech tool can make the process seamless, which in turn can help you pick the perfect fit for your organization.
- Employees value honesty and transparency.
This hasn’t changed. Employees are still recovering from the losses experienced during the recession, especially the loss of trust. Although the process will be slow, employers should work diligently to rectify the damage already done by continuing to be transparent in business processes and management decisions. According to a study by the Randstad staffing firm, 78 percent of workers look for honesty in an employer, above all else. Employees always will place high value on the honorable.
- It’s all about big data.
A Bersin by Deloitte study shows that 60 percent of companies are now investing in big data and analytics tools to help make their HR departments more data-driven. (The term “big data” refers to data sets too voluminous and intricate to process through traditional means.) Expect the gap between data-rich and data-poor HR teams to widen as more of the latter convert their strategies to be among the former.
- Inclusion is key.
Currently, four generations make up today’s workforce, but that number will increase to five as members of Generation Z join the gainfully employed in the next few years. Employers should continue to encourage diversity – in age, race, gender and other factors – while expanding beyond simple demographics to include workers with different viewpoints and experiences. Inclusion and diversity in the workplace has never been more important.