The past year has seen an acceleration in the uptake of HR tech and how we use it in business today. Data-driven approaches have been on a rise as human data became of utmost importance. In part, this has been due to the Covid-19 pandemic and our need to evolve and think towards the future of work. In fact, a recent study revealed that 90% of C-suite leaders expressed HR technology being a vital part in the survival of the pandemic. Not only is it essential to the development of company practices, but it’s also extremely important when considering employee’s well-being and readjustment to the new ‘normal’.

As HR trends are constantly changing, it is important to stay up to date so that your company does not stay behind. Implementing these practices helps improve companies’ efficiency, alignment and overall satisfaction with their professional opportunities. With this in mind, these are the top upcoming HR trends for 2022 and beyond.

• Hybrid and Remote Teams. What started out as a necessity during the pandemic is now likely to become the norm. Both employees and leaders have expressed their compliance towards splitting their time between the office and remote working. Around 79% of the C-suites say they will allow this hybrid shift, if their employees’ job permits it. This is considered one of the biggest shifts in the modern workplace in a very long time. Although it brings with it numerous advantages, it is going to be quite challenging to readjust to this dynamic. Practices from recruitment, onboarding and day-to-day management of tasks will have to be done remotely. This means it’s imperative that companies start training for this cultural shift as soon as possible. 

• Cybersecurity. With the increase in the number of employees working remotely, comes a higher risk of cybersecurity threats. Among these, phishing, malware and stealing of personal data. HR teams play an essential role in handling and keeping highly confidential employee data safe. Following cybersecurity protocols will be vital when working from home and HR departments will have to collaborate with specialists to ensure company and employee data remains secure. 

• AI Assistance and Automation. Artificial intelligence is becoming a massive part of businesses’ daily operations, more specifically, within the recruiting sector. It’s extremely helpful for screening resumes and asking candidates routine questions. It also saves time on performing repetitive tasks. However, this system has proven to be flawed, resulting in the discrimination of employees and in the mishandling of data. HR professionals need to ensure that their AI functionality becomes more sophisticated and that they keep monitoring the system to avoid bias.

• Prioritising well-being and sense of belonging. During the pandemic, the lines between professional and personal life started to blur. Leaders got an insight into their employees’ home lives and people connected on a deeper level. HR is no longer only concerned with employee physical health, but mental well-being too. The pandemic has led to very high levels of stress due to health, family and financial concerns and companies realised that employee experience had a massive effect on their performance. Studies have shown that a high sense of belonging in the workplace increases employee performance to 56%, reducing turnover risk to 50%, and decreased sick days leave to 75%. Employers need to ensure that they implement inclusive and diverse practices within their organisation to prioritise their team’s physical and mental health.

• Recruiting and Up-skilling Internally. This is an evermore important consideration for 2022. In order to create a higher sense of reward and recognition amongst employees, leaders should prioritise promoting within the company rather than finding new talent. This allows for internal mobility, reduces costs, and retains talent. HR departments need to find ways to train their employees to undertake new responsibilities to make sure they are fit for higher positions in the future.

• Remembering the Human Element. Despite the rise in technology, many elements in HR cannot be replaced. Teams are complex and empathetic individuals who need human attention and understanding. AI helps out in a lot of smart ways, but when it comes to physical and mental well-being concerns, it has its limitations. In HR, these kinds of characteristics never go out of style.

The changes in HR Tech these past few years have been drastic, and it doesn’t seem as though they’ll stop evolving anytime soon. As a leader, it is vital that you become aware of the ever-changing HR climate. Implementing smart HR tools like TeamEQ, which focus on the emotional intelligence aspect of AI, helps make sure employees feel heard. TeamEQ provides periodic pulse surveys called ‘TeamBeats’ which monitor the team’s health index and encourage teams to share regular feedback with their leaders, enhancing communication within a company. Engaging in tools like this one will help you figure out how to keep your employees happy and healthy in a rapidly changing world.

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