The future of human resources is bright, confusing, and very digital. Here’s a look at five popular HR trends for 2019 that look less like trends and more like reality:
The Future of Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum projects that 133 million new jobs require human skills with both emotional and technical intelligence, despite its projection that 75 million current jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence. Companies have already implemented AI to enhance hiring, screening, and interviewing processes. Take Hilton, for example, who developed the chatbot Ally, which streamlines the candidate selection process, providing more recruiters more “time to focus on the candidate, communicate the Hilton employer brand proposition, and deliver a richer, and more uniquely human candidate experience."
Most platforms and apps have worked to eradicate this “digital overload” by designing intuitive interfaces and creating open-source APIs for easy integration. Rewardian’s employee recognition and rewards platform integrates with nearly any application - from communication apps like Slack to project management tools like Basecamp or Mavenlink to complex legacy human resources management systems.
The learning space is one of the fastest-growing areas in the HR industry. Digital disruption has created a need to adopt automation in place of manual labor. Simultaneously, companies are taking notice of the skills and age gaps permeating the workforce and investing in employee skill building. This allows companies to comply with the evolving definition of “career” while also boosting productivity and employee engagement. A shared investment in employee growth can boost loyalty and, in turn, retention.
People analytics is a new domain in the HR space. It refers to the system of metrics used to examine employee behavior to make talent decisions. According to Bersin in Deloitte’s High-Impact People Analytics study, 69% of companies are building a people analytics database in 2019 vs. 10-15% of companies in previous years examined.
Wellness has been a concern for companies for some time now, and that’s not projected to change any time soon. As many as 84% of US employers stated in a 2016 study that say it’s a core component of their organization’s health strategy, and nearly four in five plan to sharpen their focus on building workforce health and well-being in the coming years. Wellness programs designed by companies are proven to bring with them a host of benefits including improved employee engagement, productivity, and company culture. Wellness programs can also boost market valuation, attracting qualified talent. In fact, 89% of workers at companies that support well-being initiatives are more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work.
Healthier, engaged employees are happier and more productive. According to an employee benefits study conducted in 2016, 61% of employees reported that they’ve made healthier lifestyle choices because of their company’s wellness program.
