The 2010s helped change the workplace as we know it, by turning it into a more people-focused environment. This happened with the help of the human resources professionals that started shifting their focus towards the human element that powers every business.
Now, as 2024 begins, HR professionals need to continue with the same human-centered approach, if they want to keep providing their people with the same impeccable work experiences. Technology makes everything change at a rapid pace, which means HR professionals need to step up their game to keep up with the changes.
With this being said, below are the HR trends we think will reshape the work environment in 2024. To find out how many employers use applicant tracking software to find talent, go here. If you’re looking for a better way to improve human capital management and streamline your HR operations, UKG Pro is one of the best HCM solutions available for your company.
1. Big data analysis used for making better decisions
Big data has been an important part of all the major changes in the past few years. Thanks to this technology, we now have the power to extract valuable insight from gigabytes of data, all in a very short period of time.
In terms of HR, the experts at Timesheet Portal explain that big data can help bring forward some valuable information about employee performance, satisfaction, motivation and productivity challenges. All this information can be available at their fingertips through specially designed HR technology that helps with employee time management, expenses, and payroll.
The HR department has plenty of valuable information, including employee statistics, performance KPIs and recruitment data, which can now be easily accessed and used to make better, more informed decisions. This way, companies can hire better talent and simplify the recruitment process altogether.
2. Improving the job application process
If you find it hard to find and secure new talents for the company, it may be because the application process is too lengthy or complicated, which pushed people away. Streamlining the recruitment process makes it much easier for HR professionals to put up job offers and go through applications to select potential candidates, and benefits of how HR software can help with the recruiting process can be seen here.
This year, HR professionals should focus on implementing automated administrative processes that help with the entire job application process. Automation can help sort through applications and only select those that meet the job requirements. This will help HR professionals save time, which they can use to better their interview skills and make the process more enjoyable, not only for them but for the candidates as well. Instead of a 10-minute talk with each applicant, they can reserve more time for those potential employees that are actually fit for the job.
3. Boosting employer branding to attract talent
The labor market has become more and more competitive, with companies challenging themselves to provide as much as they can for their employees. This is what makes recruiting talent that much more difficult. But if you want to hire top employees, you need to be a top company.
This is why it is important for companies to improve their brand image and market themselves as a unique workplace for those who want to join it. From implementing sustainability programs, to providing better healthcare insurance, flexible working hours and even paid meals, companies are trying their best to win over and retain talented people. Additionally, activating a corporate alumni community can play an integral part in boosting employer branding, expanding talent pools, and supporting alumni recruitment efforts with the aid of HR technologies.
The end goal for any business should be to have their own employers vouch for it, but this can only happen if employees believe in the company and feel they are taken care of.
4. Cultivating a healthy workplace culture
In recent years, the media was dominated by stories of toxic office environments, including harassment in the workplace, which led to the exposure of the unhealthy corporate environment we live in. In 2024, the focus of every business should be to address unhealthy workplace cultures and help implement a 0-tolerance policy against harassment of any kind.
In order for employees to be productive and maintain their focus, they need to feel protected and cared for inside the workplace. This is why companies need to ensure they reinforce their policies regarding workplace conduct and never dismiss a complaint that comes from their employees regarding harassment.
Encouraging open communication and trust is the first step towards a healthy work environment, where employees are not afraid to speak up and discuss their issues. In the case of a harassment complaint, the management should take measures and investigate the issue, proving trust and transparency.
5. Health and wellness benefits
Health benefits are amongst the top criteria people look at when considering a job offer, but many policies only cover physical health treatment. Unfortunately, work-related stress is a real issue, which impacts not only employees but companies as well. If employees are stressed, it will reflect on their productivity and engagement.
This is why companies need to take things one step further and start providing wellness benefits to their employees. From massages in the office to gym subscriptions and nutrition coaches, companies are doing their best to provide a number of wellness benefits that will retain employees and boost productivity.
These holistic benefit plans should be developed to combine elements of health and wellness care, focusing on both the body and the mind. Meditation classes, yoga, and even access to a personal wellness coach are amongst the top options.
6. More flexible workspaces
For as long as I can remember, I have always heard people complaining about their working schedule. And now, thanks to technological advancements, many of us can do 100% of our daily job tasks from home, by using a computer.
Flexibility in the workplace has been an ongoing trend for the past couple of years and will continue to be for the first part of this new decade for sure. The modern office has evolved far beyond the physical place, which means companies need to reevaluate their policies and start considering flexible working hours.
In places where a flexible working schedule was implemented, employee productivity and satisfaction increased considerably, encouraging more companies to do the same. And if you think this is harder to implement, just look at how many freelance workers there are. In many cases, the only thing employees need to work from home is a computer, which can be easily provided by the employer.
