The Future of HR

Written By Iolanda Hazell
Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

 

According to a recent study by KPMG on the Future of HR, where over 1300 HR executives from across the globe participated, 3 in 5 respondents believed that HR is at risk of becoming redundant.

 

The study, conducted in 2020, identified three key, interconnected areas that global HR leaders agree will ensure Human Resources’ place in an increasingly digitised world:

 

  • Committing to workforce shaping

  • Designing a “consumer-grade” employee experience

  • Harnessing technology to provide evidence-based analytics and insight

Workforce Shaping

 

Workforce shaping, - also known as workforce planning,- is about ensuring your company has the right people, with the right skill sets, at the right time. This involves identifying current and future personnel requirements and ensuring that you recruit and train your staff with the future in mind. 

 

In 2020, there is no doubt that successful workforce shaping will involve anticipating the role automation will play in a company’s given sector; maximising the benefits of humans and machines working in symbiosis.

 

Forward-thinking HR executives will be considering the following elements in workplace shaping for the future:

 

  • How to prepare their workforce for artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies

  • What the composition of the workforce will look like in order to meet the needs of the organisation 

  • Where to prioritise upskilling of the workforce to best leverage technology for optimum effect

 Employee Experience

  

Studies are showing that shaping the employee experience (EX) is key to the future of HR.


There is a direct link between EX and employee engagement, and companies with high employee engagement have been shown to have higher employee retention, greater productivity and increased sales and profit margins.

 

Deloitte defines EX as ‘the sum total of all the touchpoints an employee has with his or her employer, from the time of being a candidate (active or passive) to becoming an alumnus or alumna.’

 

The employee experience is made up of three key elements; the physical, cultural and technological workplace environments. If any of these pillars are weak, employee engagement and productivity begin to drop.

 

The following touchpoints make up the employee experience:

 

  • Candidate Experience

  • Onboarding

  • Development and Learning

  • Leadership

  • Rewards

  • Performance Management

  • Providing Opportunities for Growth and Internal Career Advancement

  • Employee Retention

     

Historically, Australian businesses have lagged behind their global counterparts in the all-important talent retention area, making a focus on EX critical for our HR executives. 

 

Technology can be utilised to provide data-driven insights to identify areas where EX may be falling down, often through the use of an employee feedback tool.

Technology, Analytics and Data-Driven Insight

 

The digital revolution is having an increasing impact on the way Australian employers are conducting business. While the people in an organisation will always serve as the foundation of innovation, productivity and ultimately success, digitisation is playing an ever-present role in the organisational structure of most, if not all companies.

 

HR leaders of today and tomorrow need to be digital natives; comfortable with data-driven processes and analytics. By utilising technologies to collate workplace insights, HR executives can drive people performance through:

 

  • Analysing data in real-time to understand the signals that point to emerging issues and opportunities

     

  • Allowing a scientific approach to assessing which capabilities and service offerings will drive competitive advantage

  • Adopting an evidence-based approach to best practice that ensures ideas are rigorously evaluated for validity and relevance

 

At Infinity HR, we work with businesses to ensure they are future-ready. With the use of cutting-edge management strategies and the latest HR software, we can help elevate your company to the next level. Contact Iolanda on 0400 or email iolanda@infinityhr.com.au to discuss the advancement of your team today.

 

References:

Deconstructing Employee Experience

KPMG: The Future of HR 2020. Which Path Are You Taking?

The Future of HR 5 trends that will shape Australian HR in 2019 and beyond

Iolanda Hazell
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