Most organisations have a human resources department that works to improve the effectiveness of its human assets for maximum productivity. Human Resources (HR) operations work to make sure each person in the organisation fits their role to ensure the company runs smoothly and meets its goals. HR operations continue to redefine the workforce based on evolving practices affecting individual employee performance and the overall performance of the entire organisation.
Rise in Technology
One of the most prominent developments in HR is the ability to manage HR Operations with technology. Technology enables employees to work remotely from everywhere. Technological innovations make the traditional workspace obsolete for specific jobs, and HR software has done the same for conventional HR systems. The impact of technology on the HR professional will continue well into the future.
Recruiting is a big part of HR. Regarding collecting an applicant’s data, HR software with integrated applicant tracking capabilities has redefined HR practices and made it increasingly easier to screen potential candidates. Google Docs is also frequently used for easy access and sharing of information. Some HR departments have looked into Google Forms for easing employee performance reviews because it allows the employee to fill out and submit forms online for managers to review. Streamlining HR operations works with some tools and HR management systems.
Many new HR software platforms are on the market, and old ones continue to improve. Handling the most complex HR operations requires sophisticated functions, and many HR departments continue to embrace cloud-based solutions. It eases the difficulty of data collection and storage and continues to reshape all of HR operations.
Rise of Outsourcing Functions
Organizations are choosing to outsource human resource functions, and it is projected to rise by 6.1% through 2020. Trends in the outsourcing market include outsourcing payroll services, administration tasks, and benefits equality. Many HR systems in the market can handle these types of management tasks, making it easier to continue to manage them in-house with a smaller HR team.
Some HR systems even enable employees to request shift swaps and view their schedules, hours worked and remaining holiday time. These types of systems make it easy for managers to approve or deny requests and reduce the amount of time they have to spend doing payroll.
The need for outsourcing continues to rise due to the increased demand for operational efficiency, cost reduction, compliance issues, and the ever-changing HR policy framework. HR software can help alleviate some of these hardships.
Diversity & Inclusion Concerns
Accommodating diversity and inclusion in the workplace is a continual concern and challenge for all HR departments. Differing ideologies, political views, and lifestyles shape the body of employees within all organizations, and fostering healthy working relationships is an important responsibility. Social justice, human rights, and employee engagement contribute to the evolution of HR operations.
As organisations begin to see themselves as global entities, they must create an environment in which people of different genders, religions, ages, and other walks of life can work without the fear of judgment. In fact, some researchers claim that more diverse teams outperform their colleagues because of their ability to adapt to different social environments and circumstances. Promoting diversity and inclusion can help increase profit and generate higher revenue.
Diversity and inclusion contribute to the need for increased training and development, promotion and leadership, and redefining the workspace.
Job Flexibility
As the workspace evolves, so does the demand for job flexibility. Because of the rise in available technology, outsourcing, and diversity and inclusion, employees are expecting employers to accommodate their needs. Many of these influences come from the rising number of millennials in the workforce. Their non-traditional attitude towards work has led to a downturn in the traditional hiring methods of employees as well as the conventional HR operations of the past.
Millennials require greater flexibility and more work/life balance, along with a need to feel valued. The flexibility of working conditions is an HR issue that organisations must perfect to attract and retain the next generation of workers.
Remodeling HR operations to allow for greater flexibility and promote a results-driven work environment is a top priority. Things like tracking employee’s time and attendance manually is a thing of the past as some employees tend to be more productive when working a flexible schedule, especially from home or outside of business hours where remote clocking and monitoring is essential.
While these things continue to redefine the workforce, HR systems have to adapt to remain relevant. Improving the effectiveness of the workplace looks different than it did years ago. HR departments can enlist the help of HR software and other technology to assist in this change, and will find it easier to evolve more quickly moving forward.