Having an insight into upcoming trends in the HR world can undoubtedly be enlightening for those who work in this field but also for those whose profession travels on other tracks. The world of work is evolving faster than ever: change is inevitable and we must embrace it to make it our own. Like a wave sweeps over us and strips us of our old garments, giving us new clothes, and it is up to us, HR professionals, to know how to seize the opportunities that this golden wind offers us.
In this article you will find an extensive examination of perspectives on the trends of 2023: a mini-guide that is the result of a long experience in the field, of data, reports, comparisons and, undoubtedly, of the passion for what is being done and that allows us to read “between” and “above” the lines of a beautiful and complex world: that of People.
A renewed sense of well-being
In a time of continuous uncertainty, lockdowns have taught us to work in a hybrid way: this means that one’s profession can be done partly in the company, partly from the comfort of home. Most employees reported feeling happier and more productive when they were able to work in their homes. Stress levels are lower within those workplaces with a business climate and culture focused on wellbeing.
Not surprisingly, these two aspects suggest that we should look at the near future with a lens focused on two factors that are likely to grow: expansion and confirmation of the hybrid work mode and the spread of corporate welfare on multiple levels to increase or consolidate well-being within organizations, with the aim of retaining talent and nurturing their staff. A healthy workplace inevitably leads to greater productivity and well-being for people.
The adoption of a “people-first” culture that values and respects employees as a whole, without seeing them as mere cogs in the corporate machine, is critical, both ethically and strategically. It is expected, therefore, to listen more to people’s psycho-physical needs, increase safety in the company, and respond appropriately to needs and concerns.
Human resources divisions focus on providing resources and interventions for the mental, physical, and financial needs of their employees and can do so by maintaining a safe and healthy work environment. Human resources can retain talented employees by listening to their needs, creating a culture of corporate trust, and responding appropriately to requests and concerns.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Management
Consequently, salary is reconfirmed to be only “one” of many factors that ensure an employee’s well-being. There are many focal points at play and, increasingly, diversity inclusion stands out: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) is an initiative aimed at eliminating discrimination, prejudice and harassment and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment that promotes innovation and growth.
According to PwC’s Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey, 75 percent of respondents value and prioritize diversity, but 32 percent believe diversity is a barrier to advancement within the organization. In addition, only 4% of companies meet expectations for a successful DEI program.
Using objective, quantifiable metrics to monitor and respond to relevant data will help HR work toward integrating DEI into a company’s structure and culture, rather than just a window dressing exercise.
In this regard, there are many companies here in Italy that have applied for Gender Equality Certification in the last period: we at Ambire Benefit Society have obtained the Certification and are proud of it as it demonstrates our commitment to these issues. Creating an inclusive environment that respects the diversity and sense of belonging of each stakeholder, internal and external, is for us the litmus test of transparency that fully reflects our culture, our values: Kindness, Sustainability, Inclusion and Innovation.
For these aspects, as well as to effectively ensure equal opportunities and to reduce the gender gap, it is very likely that, in this 2023, we will focus even more on inclusion throughout the life cycle of employees, as it is an increasingly important strategic lever both from the point of view of ethics and therefore of a company’s social responsibility, and from the economic point of view, as an engine for the creation of Value.
This leads to the implementation of policies and practices that support diversity and inclusion at every stage of the employee lifecycle, starting with their initial entry into the company:
– Recruitment: Ensure that job postings and recruitment engagements are inclusive and that the hiring process is fair and impartial;
– Onboarding: Provide new employees with resources and support to help them succeed in their role and create a welcoming and inclusive work environment;
– Development: Providing training and development opportunities that are inclusive and help employees reach their full potential;
– Promotion and Retention: Ensuring that all employees have equal opportunities for advancement and that the promotion process is fair and impartial, partly because creating a supportive and inclusive work environment helps to retain diverse talent and prevent discrimination and harassment.
By focusing on inclusion throughout the employee lifecycle, organizations can create a more diverse and inclusive workforce that is better equipped to drive business success.
Metaverse: the opportunities in the HR world
In 2023, it is possible that the concept of the “metaverse” will become more widespread and begin to have an impact on HR practices. The metaverse is a shared virtual space created by the convergence of a virtually enhanced physical reality and a physically persistent virtual space, comprising the sum of all virtual worlds, augmented reality, and the Internet. This could have significant implications for human resources as it enables new ways of working, training and collaborating.
What is being done now can be observed concretely and widely in the near future, for now we are watching the building of the foundations of this side: for example, HR departments could start using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to deliver training and onboarding experiences in a more immersive and interactive way.
These technologies could also be used to facilitate virtual team-building and networking events, allowing employees to connect and collaborate in a virtual space. In addition, human resources could begin using the metaverse to host virtual job fairs and recruit talent from around the world, as well as to conduct virtual job interviews and assessments.
The metaverse also has the potential to change the way HR manages employee benefits and perks. For example, employees may be able to use virtual currencies or tokens to access benefits such as discounted gym memberships or “digital travel” experiences. HR departments will need to adapt to these new possibilities and find ways to incorporate them into their employee engagement and retention strategies.
Overall, the metaverse has the potential to revolutionize HR practices and the way we work, and it will be important for HR professionals to stay abreast of these developments and consider how to leverage them for the benefit of their organizations.
Training: the role of soft skills
As HR professionals, we at Ambire Benefit Society have the opportunity to play a key role in training leaders and managers. This means being aware of how strategic firm yet gentle leadership is: providing managers in client organizations with the training and development opportunities they need, especially on soft skills, enables them to effectively lead and manage teams. This translates into intangible value that enhances the entire organization. Some specific ways in which we can do this are:
– Identify the skills and competencies that leaders and managers need to be successful in their roles. This may involve conducting a needs assessment and analyzing data on skills gaps within the organization;
– Providing ongoing support and coaching to help leaders and managers apply what they have learned in their roles: this may involve feedback sessions and coaching sessions;
– Encouraging leaders and managers to take an active role in their own development by setting personal learning goals and seeking out learning opportunities on their own;
– Developing and implementing training and development programs tailored to the needs of leaders and managers. This may include in-person or online learning opportunities.
What will be the growing trend to best meet these needs?
The implementation of new technologies and approaches to learning, such as virtual and augmented reality and microlearning, will increasingly be major factors in ensuring successful training. It will also involve finding ways to make learning more personalized and relevant to the needs and goals of individual employees.
In conclusion, we can say with some confidence that HR professionals will play a key role in redesigning workplace learning. This may involve collaborating with external vendors and developing in-house content. In addition, it will require using data and analytics to monitor the impact of learning programs and continuously improve and adapt them over time. By reshaping workplace learning, organizations can better support the development and growth of their employees and drive business success with a view to innovation.
