The Future of People Management: Top Trends for HR

According to a new report, HR and people management leaders are focused on digitization, talent, and the future of work.

A new report details responses from a survey of 6,600 human resources professionals in 113 countries alongside interviews of more than 30 people management leaders worldwide. In setting out to find the most pressing topics for people managers and what decision makers should focus on, respondents identified three main areas: digitization, talent, and the future of work.

HR leaders looking to digitize their processes

Survey respondents indicated that a major challenge for companies and their HR departments is technology. With so many companies shifting to the remote work model over the past year or so, the need for smooth, integrated technology solutions is perhaps more pressing than ever. Everyone wants a streamlined digital solution to common problems, including those in HR, and in workforce mobility across the assignment lifecycle.

However, one-third of survey respondents indicated that HR is equipped with these tools and capabilities. The answer may come down to the basics of IT before setting digital priorities that can eventually streamline people analytics that will make a huge difference for employees. Setting these priorities can not only enhance the overall employee experience but may eventually bridge the digital divide in communication in the remote work setting.

Talent challenge remains top of mind for employers

Another challenge for HR professionals to tackle is the talent one, including the competition for talent worldwide. The remote work setting allows companies to tap into talent in locations perhaps never considered. Overwhelmingly, leaders say that this focus on talent, from workforce planning and leadership development to upskilling and reskilling, must be employee-centric. In fact, the largest consensus in the survey was that 85% of respondents saying that a focus on employee needs and expectations is a key success factor in the intensifying competition for talent.

The future of work is flexible with a focus on safety and well-being

This leads us all to the future of work, which was also identified by survey respondents as a focus for companies and their HR departments. With the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have had to maintain flexibility, which will likely continue with workplaces deciding whether to remain remote, opt for a hybrid workforce model, or return to the on-site workplace completely.

With this comes the imperative for health and safety measures, which survey respondents chose as one of the most important HR topics, as leaders come up with safe return to work plans that put employee safety first. Alongside these safety measures is the continued need for employee health and well-being, which has taken center stage over the past year. It’s become a strategic priority for leaders who understand that putting employees first, including regarding their wellness, is perhaps more important for business than ever.

So, whether it’s the rapid need for digitization, the competition for talent that puts people first, or a future of work defined by evolving workplace planning, safety, and wellness, the HR function has been transformed. As the report says, it’s essential for people leaders “to develop and follow a clear HR and people management strategy with defined principles and priorities, rethink the target HR organization, and transform managers into real people leaders.”

Registration for the 2021 Global Workforce Symposium is Now Open!

Global Workforce Symposium 202One is about bringing the industry together as one and it’s time to celebrate all that global mobility professionals do to keep the world moving. We’re excited to welcome the entire industry under one roof for the first time in two years! Don’t miss this year's largest global mobility meeting. Just as we've done for many years, we're bringing together verticals across the mobility and relocation industry for an event that will feature all of the parts you've come to love over the years plus a few new surprises! Register now for GWS: 202One, taking place 19-22 October in Chicago, Illinois here!