The Covid-19 pandemic has been a seminal event in many ways. But its corollary has created enormous challenges for the HR fraternity. In 2021 HR function succeeded in helping the employee adapt to the changing market scenario but in 2022, the professionals are tasked with maintaining a vibrant employee pipeline for the business’s success while simultaneously managing a very different work environment. While doing so there are major challenges that the function will have to keep in mind.
Hybrid Workforce
A hybrid work model and flexibility are the key to success today. And nowadays employees want more of such working patterns. Given the current scenario and the fact that there is a need for more work-life balance today, employees must be provided with the flexibility to work remotely, so that they feel cared for and connected.
The hybrid workplace ensures a seamless experience that’s conducive to flex work styles and if employees get this benefit, they can comfortably choose their workspace and independence, thus, increasing the motivation level and performance.
Talent Attraction & Retention
Since the market has opened up, employees are re-evaluating their career options, therefore, resignations will hit the ground hard. It will become difficult for the organisation to hold the cream employees and ensure that they remain glued to the organisation, and this is where HR will have to play strategically.
Competing compensation plans, superfast hiring process to avoid losing the top talent, partnering with campuses for fresh talent. revamping onboarding processes and improving employee engagement will have to be the key focus for the HR function.
Employee Wellbeing
The office atmosphere is indeed welcoming and stress-busting. After all, those water-cooler conversations give you much-needed break. In the absence of such an atmosphere, stress and fatigue do get inducted, thus, impacting overall health and wellbeing.
This will be something that will remain a key priority for HR in 2022, as well we will be entering the third year of pandemic-induced isolation and remote working, and keeping the employees motivated will be a challenge.
Santulan (Employee Assistance Program) is a way to extend a helping hand to all employees. It is a counselling service offered by experienced counsellors to employees facing challenges in life, under strict privacy. This helps employees get back to normal, elevating their motivation level, thereby, contributing wholeheartedly to the business and ensuring continuity.
Organizations need to start thinking about the way to blend workplace – remote and in the office, including safe returns to the office.
Upskilling and Reskilling
With the super dynamic and uncertain environment today, the need to chisel the skill set will continue to be the top priority of the employees and organizations.
The HR function must create robust training programs to suit the needs of the staff, going forward. Upskill and Reskill is the need of the hour, therefore, interactive virtual learning will continue to take the center stage.
HR professionals will have to make the learning modules smart, sharp, and easy to complete for the employees, who are already swamped with work and life pressures. Finding ways and modes to attract employees to the new and improved learning modules is something that HR will have to focus on in 2022.
LEARN, ASSESS, DEVELOP, GROW and MOVE should be the foundation on which organizations must build their learning modules.
