In the past years, we’ve seen some great changes in the workplace as workers and those who have less advantages are seen and valued more. Laws and policies have helped in this, along with some important cultural shifts.
As the new year approaches, you should keep an eye on these seven trends that may continue, change, or emerge, and what they mean for HR:
Companies use strategies for performance action plans called a performance improvement plan (PIP). A PIP is typically used to help employees who are not meeting performance objectives. This could mean consistent failures or due to behavioral-related concerns. Human Resources professionals determine whether or not the PIP is appropriate given the situation.
A document should be created that outlines role expectations, areas for improvement, and goals to get employee performance back on track. These should not be used as a disciplinary action or step before termination. PIPs should be administered in conjunction with the manager to prevent bias.
Managing remote employees can be tricky, but it’s possible to overcome the challenges inherent in the hybrid workplace. Hybrid work plans, which combine in-office and remote work, are becoming increasingly popular as employees seek a balance between both models. Hybrid work plans give employees the opportunity to interact with one another in the office while providing the flexibility to work from home.
However, it’s important to understand that a hybrid work plan may not be the most effective for all companies. According to a survey by Owl Labs, 16% of global employees are working remotely, while 62% work a hybrid schedule.
An organizational shift to include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the workplace has existed, making an impact, yet rarely was it prominent enough to warrant the attention it deserved. However, this shift has been more prominent than ever before in recent years. Â Furthermore, it is no longer playing out in the background. DEI ingenuities have taken the spotlight, settling into workplaces where these concepts are making an impact and being written into company policies and procedures.
DEI initiatives are one of the most sought-after attributes of an organization. It is essential that employers and their HR departments ensure these DEI efforts are integrated into the goals of the company. Leaders need to assess the diversity in their ranks when looking at their management team and their employees.
In the past few years, many types of discrimination in the workplace have come to light. Awareness about discrimination against minorities or those with disability in the workplace has led to some great changes.
Unfortunately, pregnant employees still face unfair treatment at work.
Onboarding is a critical yet overlooked step in the employee lifecycle. A successful onboarding process will make the new hire feel part of the team, provide further clarity around the role and responsibilities, and get them up to speed and performing fast.
The world, and businesses alike are still slowly returning to routine normalcy, if it can even be called that, in this post pandemic state of affairs. Regardless of how organizations are working; remotely, back in the office full time, or a combination of the two in a hybrid schedule, HR professionals know that employee connection has become an urgent matter. Retaining top talent is critical to an organization’s growth and success. Therefore, creating an experience that entices your staff to appreciate the workplace and make it a worthwhile day is imperative.
