- On January 23, 2024
A new year is here, and that brings new trends and areas of focus for HR professionals.
Office vs. Remote Work
While the number of remote-only jobs is decreasing, many employers still struggle with getting employees back into the office consistently and making sure they are engaged and productive while there. Leaders should work with their HR team to provide a consistent message as to why in-person work is important and demonstrate the opportunities and benefits it provides, such as professional development and networking, that aren’t as easy to accomplish in a remote environment. At the same time, leaders should be aware and considerate of the varying generations and preferences of their workforce. A one-size-fits-all approach no longer works to attract and engage workers. Instead, employers should develop a plan that provides inclusivity and fairness to all if they are looking to create and maintain a strong culture.
Attracting and Retaining Employees
Organizations need to look at their entire process and strategy when it comes to talent acquisition and retention. The recruitment and onboarding process is the first introduction an applicant/new employee has to the organization. HR professionals need to work with managers to ensure the process is simple and engaging for individuals. Additionally, these processes should involve not only looking for new talent but also evaluating current employees and identifying opportunities for them to learn new skills or advance within the organization.
Employee Wellness
To assist with attracting and retaining strong employees, employers are exploring new ways to engage and motivate their teams. Employee wellness benefits are growing in popularity. These offerings go beyond offering things like traditional gym memberships. Instead, they include tools and resources for mental health, financial well-being, and work-life balance.
Employee Compensation
Though inflation rates are beginning to ease, employees are still expecting higher salary increases in 2024 than they’ve received over the last few years. May employers are struggling with budgetary concerns making meeting employee expectations difficult. This is why it’s crucial for employers to develop and communicate a well-rounded compensation and benefits plan so employees can see the value of their entire compensation package and not just focus on salary alone.
Diversity and Inclusion
DEI will continue to be a priority for organizations in 2024. Organizations are beginning to see the value a diverse culture brings to their teams. When organizations encourage and embrace diversity, they often see an increase in creativity and sharing of different perspectives, which often provides a stronger organizational culture.
Employee Classification
Ensuring employees are classified correctly (exempt vs. non-exempt, W2 employee vs. 1099 independent contractor) will be even more important in 2024. Between the new Department of Labor regulation pertaining to independent contractors and the proposed overtime rule likely coming this Spring, it will be increasingly important to ensure employees are classified correctly.
AI in the Workplace
The use of tools such as virtual assistants and ChatGPT offers both opportunities and concerns for many HR professionals. Some of these tools are able to take on or improve routine and repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on more strategic tasks. However, these tools can also cause issues with privacy, security, and accuracy. As such, HR professionals need to be cognizant of the pros and cons of AI and ensure they work with organizations to develop and implement policies pertaining to its use.
Upskilling and Reskilling
Between AI being used more widely in the workplace, baby boomers leaving the workforce, and organizations trying to do more with less, learning and development will be a top priority in 2024. Organizations will need to determine where they have/will have gaps in knowledge and develop ways to close these gaps. AI will offer advantages to streamline and improve certain processes, but employees need to be equipped with the tools to use and understand this technology.
With ExpressLink, you have access to an HR team that can help you assist your clients in creating and implementing strategies that both attract future employees and retain current employees long-term! Please contact your ExpressLink representative for more information.