Recent global changes have drastically altered how human resources and people leaders think about hiring. Great shifts are happening in and around the labor market, and to stay ahead of the curve in 2023, HR executives need to prepare their organization to meet the needs of potential candidates.
Here are some of the top human resources trends to keep in mind as your company is fine-tuning its approach to hiring in 2023
Fostering a Culture of Mental Well-Being for Employees
Workplace stress is on the rise and companies are creating workplaces to be engines of well-being. Experiencing stress at work impacts the individual worker and the worker’s relationships with friends, family, and co-workers.
“Rates of burnout, anxiety and depression are at record levels,” said Jesse DiGiovanni, Vice President, Human Resources, FirstService Residential. “In addition to pushing employers to offer generous employee benefits packages, companies will also be forced to rethink how they can create a supportive work environment.”
Some examples of providing resources for employees in the workplace to foster a culture of
support when it comes to mental health care may include:
• Expanding the focus on mental health treatment by offering employees and their household members access to counseling.
• Piloting a healthier food footprint by incorporating healthier and more affordable food options in office cafeterias and breakrooms.
• Offering new financial education programs that incentivize employees to work with coaches to improve their finance skills such as budgeting, credit management, and savings.
It's more important than ever to check in with your HR team members regularly. They have been on the frontline of massive changes in the workplace that go well beyond people management. They are dealing with mental health and well-being issues, business continuity, hybrid work models, and more.
Weaving mental health resources into your company’s culture can be the first step along a journey for employees to flourish at work, at home, and in their communities.
Greater Demand for Employee Support
In 2023, HR managers will be shifting their focus toward developing relationships with new employees and strengthening relationships with longer-standing people on their team.
“Emotionally distant management is a thing of the past. Employees want and need managers who are authentic and empathetic,” said DiGiovanni. “And like their teams, managers need support through additional training and resources to increase their soft skills.”
Below are some important items to think about when creating your company’s approach to employee development and retention:
• Emphasis on employee well-being and mental health
• Increased use of technology and automation in HR processes
• Greater focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Emphasis on remote work and virtual recruitment
• Use of data and analytics to drive decision-making in HR
Increased Importance of Compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility
When it comes to attracting and retaining top talent, the importance of corporate social responsibility and overall corporate compliance is increasing due to new regulatory requirements and pressure from a range of stakeholders from current and prospective employees to consumers.
"Emotionally distant management is a thing ofthe past. Employees want and need managers who are authentic and empathetic"
For HR and business leaders, corporate social responsibility will continue to have heightened importance as both employees continue to look for more meaning in their careers.
A recent study by Nielsen found 48% of consumers care about corporate social responsibility, including 83% of millennials. According to a Harvard Business Review study, 9 out of 10 employees said they would trade a portion of their life’s earnings for greater meaning at work.
A Greater Demand for “Human Skills”
The “great disruption” in skills is underway – and many of the top skills have shifted in 2023.
What skills are needed for a future workplace where one billion jobs will be transformed by technology by 2030? While technical skills remain highly valued, some of the top most sought-after skills that employers are seeking today are all human:
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Leadership
• Attention to Detail
•Collabo ration
• Personal Learning and Mastery
• Achievement Focus
• Cultural and Social Intelligence
Business and HR leaders have always known that human skills are critical, but now we’re seeing a heightened demand for them as they become the “new hard skills.” They rely on human connections, and the ability to lead others, and they cannot be automated.
Jesse DiGiovanni
VP, Human Resources, FirstService Residential
Jesse DiGiovanni, vice president of human resources, is responsible for the oversight and direction of all human resources activities, including planning and development of initiatives to align with company policies, culture, and best practices. She also serves as a strategic business partner, working closely with market and operational leaders to help meet and exceed organizational goals.
