4 Key HR trends you’ll see in 2017

HR departments see some distinct changes throughout this year

HR trends and practises have already seen some significant changes in the first quarter of 2017, with some being newly created or completely redesigned.  These HR trends rounded up by Anna Verasai, HR Digest, are well worth considering.

Ditching the Annual Review System – Time to Rethink

Established firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, GE, Adobe, and SAP (recently) announced their decision to ditch the annual performance review system, during 2015-16, with many companies following in their footsteps.

These systems failed to provide good results, which led to the slow-down in this trend – in fact, many companies have reported that their employees’ engagement and their performance levels have lowered as an outcome.

Of course, ditching an outdated system is not enough to bring changes; but organisations also need to find good alternatives that can help in making a successful transition. We may now start seeing HR departments devoting their time to collect data, re-design or create a successful performance and change management during 2017.

Automated HR and Team Management Tools

As technology improves at such a fast rate, so HR technology improves too – tools for robotic automation processing, language processing, voice commanded devices, etc. These will all aid HR processes like interviews, hiring, employee performance management, work assessment, and more at a huge level; not only in this year but for the future too.

Further to this, the wide range of automated tools for tracking, managing, and collaborating team work will ultimately replace the traditional file-keeping and record-keeping systems. Now, you can easily store such records on different team management tools, such as Asana, Slack, Basecamp, Trello, Rallyteam, and various other online tools.

Engagement and Integration of Contingent Workforce

The following information shows the statistics of a study by Fieldglass:

In 2015, the average company’s workforce breakdown consisted of 54 percent traditional full-time workers, 20 percent contingent workers (including contractors, interns, and freelancers), and 26 percent workers that include part-time workers and workers working from remote areas.

Research predictions 2017 says that the number of traditional workers will decrease to 41 percent and the number of non-traditional contingent and grey area (remote and part-time) workers will increase to 25 percent and 34 percent respectively.

HR departments will now have to develop innovative strategies and creative ways for engaging the new workforce and integrating them into the company culture this year.

Traditional Job Profiles Become Outdated

Over the last few years we have seen the biggest trend of hiring millennials, and skilled and talented workforce; which has led to a change in job descriptions. The job openings are not limited to a specific type of talent anymore. In fact, extra sets of skills and talents has become a bonus for employers.

For example, a Graphic Designer having the knowledge of marketing skills will be a preferred employee; in comparison to just another designer.

Along with this; the major HR trends 2017 will also include self-learning and self-development systems, importance of co-workers’ feedbacks, strong focuses on workplace ethics and culture, and employer branding; among other small and big trends.

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