COVID-19 has changed how we work, and companies have adopted remote and hybrid setups to adjust to the new normal.
Big and small companies have adopted work from home arrangements, and as we welcome 2022, it pays to stay abreast of the upcoming digital HR trends that will define the future of work.
Trend #1: A Focus on Employee Experience
Employees are the most important asset to any company. And for a good reason: so long as employees have a clear understanding of the role they play and are aligned with the organization’s goals, they’ll feel more engaged and inspired to perform better.
An engaged workforce can go a long way in contributing to company and revenue growth, after all. So it only makes sense that employee experience (EX) will reign supreme as a top HR trend for 2022 and beyond.
In the Philippines, a significant fraction of companies are starting to recognize just how vital employee experience is to their business. One survey on employee experience revealed that 95% of employers would improve EX within the next three years. Taking that idea further, employers in the survey think that employee engagement, productivity, and well-being contribute to a positive employee experience.
Trend #2: A Need to Upskill
A recent global survey of HR leaders underscores the need for additional skills in 2022. When asked how they feel about upskilling and retraining, 77% of Filipino employees are open to the idea.
Upskilling helps employees gain more skills relevant to their role and lets companies nurture in-house talent, resulting in a more agile and flexible workforce.
Trend #3: Greater Internal Mobility
Internal mobility is another emerging digital HR trend to watch out for in 2022. Data tells us that it’s a growing trend here in the Philippines since 20% of local firms have made it part of their strategy in 2020.
In basic terms, internal mobility describes the process of moving your team members into new opportunities within the organization. That said, companies that focus on internal mobility can help employees stick around for longer and hone them into more competent leaders. Any lateral or horizontal movement may also help your firm save on hiring costs, time, and effort.
Trend #4: Better Team Collaboration
Before the pandemic, productive time translated to hours spent in the office. But now, the office has evolved, and employers have embraced the idea that work can take place outside physical workspaces like an office cubicle. In fact, recent research states that working from home sparks greater productivity among Filipino employees.
But despite the benefits associated with remote work, it has also created obstacles to collaboration and led to siloed work processes. According to a 2020 employee survey from Robert Walters, 37% of Filipino workers feel frustrated by the social isolation brought on by working remotely.
2022 will focus on improving collaboration between teams, and HR teams will be a lot more deliberate in helping their teams create, collaborate, and innovate.
Trend #5: Innovation Through Automation
As the current work landscape goes through several changes, it helps to eliminate tedious manual or redundant processes. Automation can help HR teams save time and focus to help the organization succeed.
Companies can streamline their HR processes through digital tools that address payroll, employee engagement, performance and learning management, benefits, and more.
The good news is that some companies have already started to automate their manual processes. In 2020, 45% of HR leaders worldwide shared that they would adopt automation within the next 12 to 24 months. If this data teaches us anything, HR departments are more likely to leverage automated tools in the coming year.
Trend #6: The Shift to a Data-Driven Mindset
Before the rise of technology, and even some companies nowadays, HR teams would collate spreadsheets and work through paperwork. Thankfully, data has played a huge role in helping HR obtain real-time, accurate, and detailed data.
In particular, people analytics has helped organizations gather and analyze people-related data to make better decisions. Currently, 58% of companies in the Philippines have data analytics teams. Some of these businesses leverage headcount and staffing analytics, while 51% prepare related reports.
Still, many companies fall short in conducting effective and data-driven people analytics. These findings show that companies should adopt HR analytics for better decision-making in 2022.
Trend #7: A Focus on Digital Literacy
In today’s digital world, your team needs the right skills to adapt and survive. Surprisingly, there’s still a disconnect between company needs and levels of digital competency. As stated in a 2018 survey, only 16% of business leaders and 9% of employees consider themselves digitally proficient.
That said, we can expect learning and development strategies that provide employees with essential digital skills as a digital HR trend in 2022.
Trend #8: A Better Rewards System
The current landscape has changed what inspires employees to work and what they appreciate the most about their roles. As a result, well-being will play a more central role in overall productivity and engagement.
Employers are expected to offer long-term inclusive benefits that prioritize flexibility, holistic well-being, and mental health support. In fact, data shows that 85% of firms in the Philippines are focusing on offering well-being programs to attract talent.
Leverage New Recruitment Strategies for 2022
Change is inevitable, and the way we work is no exception. The new year presents new opportunities to rethink how your firm recruits, engages, and nurtures talent.
Stay business growth-ready and prepare your organization for the hybrid future with Sprout’s holistic, all-in-one people platform. To learn how Sprout can help your company grow, as we have helped many others, check out our comprehensive product suite, or keep up with the latest developments about hybrid work on our blog.
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