HR trends that offer glimpses into the workplace of the future

N.Vijayagopalan

As the world has been considerably recovering from a disastrous pandemic, the corporate workplace is undergoing its third consecutive year of significant transformation on several fronts, reshaping the future of work. Several HR trends are being witnessed, of which some fade away while some stay and make a difference.

In 2023, we have been witnessing organizations continuing to face significant challenges, which include a higher employee turnover, a competitive talent landscape, an exhausted workforce, and pressure to control costs amid a looming economic downturn.

Let’s examine how a few trends revealed by various HR research agencies are set to transform the workplace.

Automation at Work has assumed the centre stage in the new workplace. Slack’s ‘State of Work 2023’ survey report reveals that 75% of the Indian professionals surveyed have adopted AI tools and automation to boost productivity, and that automation can save employees up to an entire working month per year – freeing up their time for more meaningful, impactful work. Many HR tasks are manual, redundant and repetitive. These tasks are likely to result in delays and errors. HR tech has modules for automating recruitment, core HR, payroll, compliance, and more. Since automation minimizes human intervention, employees get more done faster. Also, HR can spend more time on strategic tasks.

Remote and Hybrid Work models are rewriting the rules of the game. About 77% of participants in EY’s Global Capability Center (GCC) Pulse survey 2023 believe that a majority of their workforce will continue to work in a flexible manner for the next telve months. Although most of the companies have experienced remote or hybrid work recently, their HR departments found that the distance barrier has been challenging employee engagement and management. Companies need to deploy the right tools for tackling these challenges better. Many HR tech platforms have inbuilt tools for this purpose.

Employee Experience is assuming greater significance. Employees always expect that their workplace is a great place to work. HR department can make this happen by fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging teamwork. New-age HR tools like Employee Self Service portals (ESS) have features to simplify tasks for employees. When employees enjoy a great experience at work, productivity increases and attrition decreases.

Virtual Learning is becoming increasingly common. Classroom-based learning doesn’t apply to the remote-work model. A learning management system (LMS) makes it possible by enabling remote training and self-directed learning with video conferencing and webinar tools. Many organizations also use gamification, microlearning, Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR) to raise comprehension levels.

Actionable Analytics has assumed great importance. HR department, which maintains employee data, also face the challenge of drawing meaningful insights from them. These insights help make the workplace more productive, inclusive, and employee-centric. Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-powered analytics, via intuitive dashboards, help make informed HR decisions. Sentiment analysis can be used to understand the expectations and intentions of employees.

Employee well-being has become a prime parameter in organizational management.   A joint report by Indeed and Forrester Consulting revealed that only 24 percent of employees within Indian organisations enjoy a high level of well-being in their workplaces. The remote work model has widened this gap between employee aspirations and employer expectations. HR can use technology to bridge this gap by conducting programs to keep employees happy, healthy, and productive. Such programs usually include training, assessments, and counseling. There are also many wellness apps and tools, but the focus has to be on holistic wellbeing.

It is also to be borne in mind that in the new workplace, employers are facing many challenges including addressing erosion of social skills in the workforce, new data risks arising from getting personal with employee support, growing concerns around AI bias affecting transparency in recruitment, bridging the gaps in upskilling of the workforce and so on.

In conclusion, it can be noted that these emerging HR trends offer glimpses into the emerging workplace of the future. It is imperative that these shifts, from remote work optimization to talent analytics and employee well-being, are embraced with all earnestness as they are essential for organizations to thrive and remain competitive. Organisations have no option other than adapting to these changes and being in readiness for  further evolution. HR professionals and businesses will be tempted to together build a future of work that is more inclusive, efficient, and in tune with the needs of the evolving workforce. Staying informed and agile in response to these trends has become a compulsion for navigating the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the ever-evolving world of HR and work.