7 HR Trends of 2017

2017-08-30

In the 00s, almost all spheres of business were subjects of digital transformation. We see how the Internet changes the environment, trade, transportation services, and education. According to Forrester Research Company, 47% of executives believe that by 2020, the digital sphere will affect more than half of their companies' sales. It was also the turn for the transformation of HR.

The following 7 trends show how HR adopts new technologies for attracting, training, and motivating employees.



  1. Using Chatbots




Artificial intelligence is a huge growing market, which soon, like the Internet, can get into all areas of our life. In 2016, in the West, there was a surge of interest in "chatbot employees" - software that helps staff in their daily activities. For example, employees-bots have already learned to make appointments, select similar resumes on recruiting sites and help newcomers to adapt to the place of work.

Further introduction of bots into our personal and professional life will inevitably put employees before the need to increase their productivity.


  1. Creating an attractive workspace




The features of the office space can significantly affect the performance of employees. At the moment, most of the offices are built as open spaces which are most suitable for extroverts, who are constantly in need of interaction with other people. For an introvert, working in such a room can turn into a real torture and negatively affect their productivity.

However, even the sociable people need certain silence to perform certain types of tasks, for example, to prepare a report or write an article. Gradually, companies come to the conclusion that employees themselves must choose their own workplace, depending on the tasks that they are going to work on.

For example, in its Russian office, Phillips refused to have fixed jobs and a fixed working day, which allowed a 25% reduction in maintenance costs.



  1. Increasing the number of freelancers and remote employees




In the companies of the future, consultants, contractors, freelancers, and part-time employees will play an important role. This phenomenon is connected with the development of online platforms such as Uber, Bitrix, Oracle, and SAP. Far-sighted leaders of HR departments should begin addressing the issues of integrating remote employees and freelancers into the team and training them.



  1. Development of mobile learning




Mobile platforms allow employees to try themselves in another profession and get new skills while maintaining their current position. According to many HR specialists, online training helps to increase the employees' engagement in the work, their productivity, and the ability to work in a team.



  1. Focus on teamwork and not on individual development




Before, HR departments focused on the individual development of employees - their hiring, training, and evaluation. Nowadays the main focus shifts towards creating the most effective team. The experience and skills of all employees should complement each other, providing the best result that is unattainable in the process of individual work.



  1. Using the Big Data




To make the best use of human assets, companies seek to collect as much data about employees as possible, for example, using their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Today, there are many new tools that allow you to collect information in real time, and use it to analyze the staff's work. This raises the question of who actually owns the data, and who has the right to use it.



  1. Taking care of employees' health




Companies regularly lose profits because of illness or resigning of employees, caused by stress, chronic diseases, occupational injuries, and professional burnout. Compensation of expenses and introduction of healthy nutrition help not only to save money on payment of sick leaves but also to attract and retain talented employees, while increasing attendance.

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