The 10 HR issues that top HR professionals will face in 2022

It’s no secret that the modern work environment is changing at a rapid pace. Many of these changes are aimed at improving workplace culture and enabling employees to achieve a better work-life balance, but the responsibility for implementing these new practices lies with HR managers.

This article presents the top HR issues of 2022 that HR leaders are likely to face. The top 10 HR issues that top HR professionals will face in 2022 are diverse and complex, including:

01.Improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

According to a recent Gartner survey, 35% of HR leaders will prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion issues in the coming year. Organizations in virtually every industry will strive to develop awareness of DEI-related issues to create an inclusive work environment.

These institutions face internal and external pressures to become more diverse, which is why improving DEI is considered one of the most important workforce issues of 2022.

02.paving the way for remote working

During the height of the pandemic, companies around the world moved to hybrid and remote working. Although many companies are considering a return to the office in some form in the future, this new trend is here to stay. The majority (92%) of companies surveyed by Gartner expect that some employees will continue to work remotely.

Given this trend, HR departments must adapt to telecommuting. Employees and business leaders want to continue to take advantage of this form of employment, which requires HR leaders to change the way they manage human capital to maintain productivity and optimal levels of interpersonal communication.

03.improving change management.

While employees and leaders are open to the idea of a hybrid work environment, implementing sweeping organizational change can wear employees out. Improving change management is considered one of the top 10 HR issues that leadership teams will face in 2022.

McKinsey found that companies are “five times more likely to have a successful transformation if leaders have modeled the behavioral changes they are asking employees to make.” HR leaders should prioritize re-evaluating change management, as many employees are likely suffering from burnout and fatigue due to the changes implemented over the past year and a half.

04.building critical skills

McLean & Company conducted a report on HR Trends 2021 to identify pressing issues facing HR leaders. It found that there is a significant skills gap in many industries.

To respond, HR leaders need to analyze the skills gaps in their organizations using tools such as role-based skills assessments, while also training employees in specific new skills. According to the report, only a small percentage of HR departments currently conduct this type of training and analyze employee skills gaps.

05.Equipping future leaders.

DDI conducted a survey of 368 CEOs and 2,102 HR professionals and found that only 38% of mid-level managers were rated “very good” or “excellent.” This trend is extremely concerning because, given the global talent shortage, developing employees from within is essential to a company’s long-term success.

In 2022, HR leaders must develop strategies that equip future leaders for promotion opportunities. In particular, this training should focus on developing empathetic managers who are aware of the needs of their subordinates.

06.Finding talent in times of shortage

The global talent shortage, often referred to today as the “Great Resignation,” is making it difficult for companies to find qualified employees for open positions. To mitigate the impact of this shortage, HR leaders need to develop more effective talent assessment strategies. These can include competency testing and remote interviews, as these tactics can speed up the hiring process.

07.Provide great employee experiences

The modern employee is concerned with much more than just a good salary. While earning potential influences their decision to stay with a particular company, they are just as interested in a healthy work environment. HR managers need to find ways to improve employee health and make them more resilient to disruption.

08.Identifying the skills employees will need in the future

Before HR teams can develop new training programs, they must first determine what skills their employees will need in the future. Unfortunately, it can be incredibly difficult to predict which skills will be in demand in the near future. For example, the skills needed for a particular job in 2018 may no longer be relevant in 2022. This obsolescence is due to rapid technological advances that companies in all sectors are taking advantage of.

09.revision of training practices.

HR leaders must prioritize building critical skills and core competencies. This focus is not surprising, as many HR leaders say they cannot develop effective skills development solutions quickly enough to meet the changing needs of their organizations. In 2022, HR leaders will be tasked with revamping their existing training practices to more effectively deliver new skills to employees.

10.Promote a healthy work environment

The last of our top HR themes for 2022 is promoting a mentally and physically healthy work environment. In addition to a competitive salary and positive work experiences, employees also want high levels of job security, tolerable average stress levels and interpersonal emotional maturity.

Since remote teams don’t physically meet, it’s important that the company culture is strong to create a healthy work environment. For companies that choose a hybrid model, maintaining physical security can be guided by trusted protocols against Covid-19 or even OSHA’s ETS (although this standard is currently suspended). To maintain productivity and employee retention, HR leaders must address individual employees’ concerns about their stress and burnout levels. To promote employees’ emotional well-being, they need to create a work environment that is collaborative and provides psychological safety. Finally, HR leaders should provide employees with development opportunities in an inclusive environment.

HR leaders who effectively prepare for these challenges will help their organizations create a productive and diverse workforce. Everyone will benefit, from rank-and-file employees to executive-level managers.

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