5 HR Trends to Watch Out For in 2021

So many things have changed during the pandemic, including the way we work and recruit. Thousand of people have switched jobs, and remote working has been normalised in the past few months. The way employees communicate and collaborate has also changed. Employee expectations have also changed. How will HR keep up?

If you are an HR professional, here are five trends you must watch out for in 2021:

Flexible working models

Back then, some companies allowed their employees to work remotely for a few days to improve their work-life balance. But now, remote working has become a norm during the pandemic. Still, it continues to be a debatable issue for most organisations as they are concerned about employee productivity and focus.

Some remote working issues include:

Lack of in-office contact,
Distractions at home, and
Poor internet connectivity.

For HR, this is a confusing issue. Some workers prefer working from home, but they may face productivity issues. Then, there are managers who struggle to improve employee engagement and productivity. Balancing both parties' expectations could be challenging, but collaborative technology can make matters easier.

For instance, since people can no longer communicate in person when working from home, you can create an internal knowledge base for all your company resources. You can also give workers the flexibility of adding their insights to this database to create a cohesive and collaborative work environment.

Engaging younger employees

It is only a matter of time before the new generation joins the workforce. The new generation is more likely to seek out self-development plans to fit their organisations' changing needs. However, they prefer flexible schedules and remote working choices. They also value consistent feedback from their managers, emphasising the need for deeper collaboration between employees and employers.

AI-Based Recruitment Tools

Artificial Intelligence is dramatically modifying HR practices with the latest technologies. For instance, AI algorithms can automate repetitive tasks, leaving you with more time to focus on high-impact duties.

You can also use AI to employ chatbots for recruitment. It's a tough job to filter hundreds of applications, but a chatbot can automate these tasks, reducing the time and cost of hiring.

Many resumes are ignored in the filtering process. A chatbot can:

Filter the resumes and find more candidates to add to your talent pool.
Answer FAQs about the position and the overall application process.

The future of recruitment will make it easier to find suitable candidates.

Cloud-Based HR Technology

Cloud-based HR software will be more prevalent in the future. More HR professionals will need to manage employees who are working remotely. Cloud-based HR allows HR staff to access employee data in real-time, which enables better decision-making. This software also gives employees better control over their data, which leads to improved engagement and higher productivity.

Continuous Performance Management

In the future, there will be no need for an annual performance review. Upcoming work models would be focused on ongoing performance management. It would include:

Regular feedback sessions
Automated performance evaluations

The goal is to keep employees engaged in real-time by giving them constant performance feedback while learning and meeting their expectations. Employers will also know what employees want to enhance their wellbeings, such as more frequent breaks and meditation sessions.

Be it flexible work models or remote hiring and performance management; HR professionals need to understand employee behaviour and expectations and balance them with organisational goals. They can only achieve this by adopting the latest technologies.

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Source: Recruiting blogs

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