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HR Trends to Watch in 2022 and Beyond
The HR industry was reinvented in 2021 by the establishment of new rules and regulations. The year 2022 will be all about pushing boundaries in order to maximise value. In this article, we will examine the emerging HR trends that will assist businesses in managing their workforce more productively and with greater empathy in 2022 and beyond.
Since the global pandemic, there has been a paradigm shift in where and when we work, as well as how we measure progress. The years 2020 and 2021 forever altered the game’s rules.
Emerging HR technologies are being developed to alter how employers screen, hire, onboard, and manage talent. According to Gartner research, 90% of HR leaders want to maintain or increase their technology spending, while one-third want to cut their budgets. This demonstrates that employers are ready to embrace changing HR trends in one way or another.
To keep winning, the HR industry should implement a working model that provides greater flexibility to employees while also maximising productivity and efficiency. According to a Gartner survey, nearly 60% of HR leaders said that developing critical skills and competencies will be their top priority in 2022.
Here are my predictions for the top HR trends for 2022 and beyond:
• Hybrid work model
The pandemic has forced organisations to adopt a hybrid work model where employees can continue to work remotely as well as from the office. This shift to hybrid work will be a massive transformation in the coming years, and every HR professional must be prepared to support it.
According to a 2020 report, 90% of HR leaders would like to allow their employees to work remotely and from an office following vaccination. According to a WeWork and Workplace Intelligence survey, 79% of C-suite executives will encourage their employees to use the hybrid work model if their job allows it.
The hybrid work model exists to empower employees while keeping them engaged even in difficult times. Instead of focusing on the workplace, the entire focus is on delivering better business results while ensuring employee wellness.
• Employee wellness
Employee health and well-being will be more important than ever.The pandemic has had a negative impact on the health of the workforce. Anxiety, fear of losing one’s job, and a heavy workload have all harmed employee morale across industries, resulting in burnout. According to Gartner, 85% of employees reported higher levels of burnout, with 40% reporting negative effects on work-life balance.
Employees have been stressed since the pandemic began, which has resulted in a number of physical and mental health issues. Employers will be more proactive than ever in making employee wellness a top priority in 2022 and beyond. According to the CDC, investing in employee wellness programmes by employers could reduce healthcare costs and insurance claims.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
DE&I is more than a passing fad; it assists organisations in expanding their talent pool and developing a global brand.
The rising needs are diversity, equity, and inclusion. Because of the pandemic, there is a greater need for empathy as well as a more humane and inclusive work environment, which has inspired organisations to prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). DE&I in the workplace will almost certainly be at the top of the list of HR priorities in the future. Human resource professionals should plan to invest more in diversity and inclusion in order to foster innovation and growth.
• Employee reskilling and upskilling
Upskilling and reskilling of employees will be prioritised. Many of the skills sought after for a job in 2018 may not even be applicable in 2022 in this rapidly evolving workplace. Businesses have been forced to focus on upskilling and reskilling their existing workforce. Another reason is a scarcity of multi-talented professionals willing to switch careers.
• Data literacy
Not long ago, businesses were looking for people analytics experts. However, there is a noticeable shift from people analytics to data literacy. HR leaders should prioritise improving their data literacy and data mining skills using cutting-edge technologies and automation in 2022 and beyond.
The challenge for HR professionals is to read data contextually and extract insights relevant to the job at hand. To do so, many HR professionals must improve their data literacy skills. According to findings from the Academy to Innovate HR, only about four in ten HR professionals can effectively read, apply, and communicate data to influence decision-making (AIHR). Data literacy is undoubtedly here to stay, as it enables leaders to accurately manage workforce data and drive greater business value.
2022 will be a year of promise, innovation, and greater inclusion. HR leaders should focus on maximising value and pushing boundaries in the coming year.