Top 7 HR Trends for 2017
Every year significant changes are noted in the workplace which indicates how Human Resources will advance. These developments influence all company aspects from recruitment to employment diversity and benefits. Trends are based on dialogue, technological developments and expertise from human resource executives in addition to economic themes nationally, regionally and internationally. These Human Resource developments for 2017 can present a myriad of opportunities as well as potential setbacks.
- Employee Engagement – Business establishments are now concentrating on employee engagement to improve productivity and profitability. Approaches such as encouraging creativity and innovation, celebrating achievements, raising salaries and fostering social programmes at the workplace can heighten employees’ enthusiasm, interest and pride in the workplace.
- Millennials in Management – This is a retirement year for many senior executives thus leaving many senior management positions open for younger millennials. Millennials produce innovation, entrepreneurial values and digital capabilities which is very important to the success and evolution of businesses.
- Breakthrough of Talent Analytics – Talent analytics is collecting and using data to assess employee performance, disintegration and cost for current and potential employees. Talent Analytics is powerful because it eliminates uncertainty when it comes to recruiting the right talent for the right job. Metrics, such as Workforce forecasts, Talent Value Models and Talent Supply Chains, which are used to collect data, assist human resource professionals and companies to select exact talent matches who are highly inspired, enthused and experienced consequently improving and exceeding productivity.
- Remote Locations – Working from home is definitely a trend on the rise. Companies save hundreds of thousands of dollars by using technology to allow employees to remain in the home country with the benefits of working abroad. The headquarters of a corporation can be in China and have active employees working from Uganda, Grenada or Australia. Web conferencing software such as Zoom, WebEx and GoToMeeting facilitate easy communication and collaboration worldwide – with high speed internet of course.
- The End of Annual Reviews – Reviews and appraisals are generally executed on an annual or bi-annual basis. These reviews provide feedback on employee performance and corresponding salary increases and bonuses. However annual reviews hinder progress by which old wounds are reopened, employee frustrations and arguments linger and the positives are quickly outweighed by the negatives. Businesses are now realizing that more regular and frequent feedback generates more positive dialogue on current employee performance and is a more effective way to track progress and provide constant training.
- Employment Diversification – Globalization and migration open up work opportunities to people from all ethnicities, age and sex. Gender equality and organizational restructuring encourage companies to review management policies and practices and formulate more inclusive practices. Employment diversification boosts marketing opportunities, employee selection, decreases lawsuits and improves overall business image and success.
7. Corporate Social Responsibility – Corporate social responsibility is a company’s way of giving back to communities and society in general. This year we predict many companies will support social issues and general community enhancement. Businesses engage in CSR by making donations to schools, providing hampers to the poor and destitute, organizing soup kitchens for the homeless and building bus shelters. Many companies are now recycling and going paperless in an effort to deal with climate change and promote carbon reduction.