The human resources (HR) department is of immense value to organizations of all sizes.

From hiring to retaining employees, HR professionals shoulder a high degree of responsibility to ensure the good health of the backbone of an organization (its people).

Organizations across the world have been adapting to the post-pandemic era.

Heading into 2022, human resource departments are likely to be affected by changes in the business environment.

More and more organizations have been facing increased demand for employee benefits (health & wellness) to flexible work programs.

HR professionals, in particular, need to pay close attention to the laws and regulations regarding COVID-19.

Let us dive into the top human resource trends.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

67% of job seekers consider a diverse workplace an important factor when deciding to accept a position. 

Having a diverse and inclusive workplace is obviously the right thing to do.

However, it goes beyond that.

Organizations embracing DEI are more likely to succeed (financially) than those that do not.

Check out our post on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

As per data, gender-diverse businesses are 15% more likely to beat industry median financial returns.

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Diverse companies enjoy 2.3x more cash flow per employee.

Going forward, human resource management professionals will pay close attention to their DEI initiatives for recruiting top talent and improving employee experience.

Remote: The New Normal

The Covid-19 changed the way we work.

No one could have predicted the incredible impact of the Covid-19 on our lives.

Remote work saved 92 million miles of driving and reduced carbon emissions by 41,000 metric tons.

There was a 124% increase in VPN usage in the US from March 2020.

While remote work started as a temporary endeavor, it is most likely here to stay.

Employees favor flexible schedules to have a better work-life balance.

However, ensuring that a remote workforce is productive and engaged, has its own set of challenges.

Professionals in the human resource management space would have to rely on technology and innovative strategies to achieve this.

HR leaders would also have to review and update HR policies addressing eligibility, expectations, and technology, among others.

Human Resource Trends: Technology

More and more HR departments are using technology to automate and manage their workflows.

From recruiting to onboarding, the Covid-19 pandemic has made organizations rethink their HR processes.

The need for cloud-based computing and technological capabilities is not limited to enterprises; HR departments at small businesses will also have to keep up with these to improve efficiency.

A more productive and efficient workplace begins when HR leaders implement numerous layers of AI to deliver more value to their organizations. Whether they are ready for this transformation, both on an individual and organizational level, remains to be seen- Forbes

Employee Well-Being

Anxiety and depression have more than doubled during COVID-19 in the U.S.

Organizations with an effective wellness program realize an average reduction of 28% in sick days and 26% in health costs.

These programs are not just for large companies; small businesses can also enjoy the benefits of employee wellness initiatives.

Going forward, more and more businesses will focus on programs to boost the health and wellness of their employees.

Moreover, expanding employee wellbeing resources to the entire family is also on the rise.

No wonder employee wellbeing is one of the most important objectives of human resource management.

Human Resource Trends: Compliance

With the changing laws and guidelines, HR departments will have to ensure they meet compliance requirements.

This could mean revising employee handbooks and reassessing policies and rules related to leave-benefits, drug testing, harassment training, and others.

Pre Employment Screening

Wrong hires are often the biggest source of hidden costs to an organization.

On average, US businesses spend over $4,000 and 52 days to fill an open position.

HR leaders are embracing scientific pre-employment screening solutions to attract, engage, and retain top talent.

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Which of these human resource trends relate to your organization?

Leave a comment below.