There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic-led workplace transformation has hugely impacted HR policies across the globe. The HR industry in 2022 is seeing a dramatic shift, with HR professionals playing a crucial role in maintaining employee engagement, health, and productivity during these challenging times.
There is a lot that the pandemic has taught the business community that is sure to have a huge impact in the future. Here are the five key lessons we could learn from the HR industry in 2022.
Evolving and adapting are the key
One of the most important lessons from the HR industry in 2022 concerns the employee experience. Throughout the pandemic, the employees’ mental and physical health and well-being have been at the forefront of the evolving business strategy. Several companies also provided special training to address some of these issues for their employees.
The workplace transformation due to the pandemic forced businesses to adopt a more flexible and hybrid work model. The HR industry must learn to change and adapt. HR leaders must continue to evolve their strategies to help improve the employee experience.
Empathy has never been more important
The HR industry in 2022 has been forced to rethink how to have effective employee engagement. The pandemic has helped realize the importance of human interaction more than ever before. The ability to empathize and effectively communicate with the employees is no longer an optional ‘soft skill’ rather an organization-wide necessity.
More and more HR leaders are taking steps to ensure the well-being of their employees.
A hybrid work environment is not going anywhere
The pandemic has clarified that the hybrid work environment is here for the long haul. The HR industry needs to recognize this and create policies and necessary changes.
Communicating clearly about the organization’s policies regarding the hybrid work model with the employees is essential. Your workforce needs to know whether the hybrid work model is optional or mandatory. While there are clear upsides to working from home, many employees do experience the downside. It’s your employees’ right to know clearly where you, as a company, stand on this issue.
Handle the recruitments effectively
With the pandemic easing around the world, HR professionals are being forced to post more job openings than usual. The recruitment process must be streamlined to ensure that HR can recruit the top talent for the company.
Application tracking systems can make publishing vacancies and tracking the candidates very easy and efficient. Good HR software also has a great impact on the employee experience, which adds to the company’s overall value.
Employee engagement should come first
One key lesson the HR industry learned is that employees don’t want to continue if they are not engaged effectively. It is a fact that employees are motivated more by appreciation from their organization than monetary benefits.
The HR industry must ensure that employees feel valued and cared for by their organization. Offering flexible working opportunities and greater autonomy can go a long way when engaging employees.
Another lesson the pandemic has taught is that listening to the employees and letting them direct the policy to an extent can help improve employee engagement. As we advance into 2022, employee engagement has to be one of the top priorities to improve profitability and productivity.
The takeaway
Although a lot remains uncertain regarding the pandemic, it is clear that the way HR leaders handle the coming few years will help redefine the corporate culture. It is essential that the HR industry keeps learning and evolving to maintain competitiveness while witnessing unprecedented workplace transformation.