The rate of change in human resources is rapidly accelerating. HR departments are continuously experimenting and implementing new HR techniques and strategies for recruitment, training, and performance management in order to bring out the best in their people.
Different reimagined employee experiences and technological innovations massively impacted the workplace and the workforce in 2018.
Here are 6 HR trends that worked wonders in the past year.
1. Face To Face Video Interviews
2018 saw a dramatic increase in the use of video chatting technology for conducting interviews. Face to face video interviewing is an efficient method for interviewing potential candidates residing in a different city or country.
Video interviewing seems to be the perfect amalgamation of technological sophistication and cost-cutting measure, with face to face video interviews broadening the talent pool. This new age of HR endeavor is efficient and time-saving; HR professionals across the globe making video interviews an integral part of their HR strategy.
2. Two Way Mentoring
Opposed to an old saying, you can actually teach an old dog a new tricks. Two way mentoring has taken the HR space by pleasant surprise, providing an excellent way to promote learning in an organisation.
While a newbie learns from a seasoned employee’s invaluable process experience, product knowledge, and field expertise, company veterans can rejuvenate their imagination; learn to channel fresh perspectives and master newer technologies with the help of new employees. Two way mentoring is a back and forth process that serves to benefit everyone.
3. Napping At Work
Napping at work is now officially a good idea. As per Harvard Scientists, American companies lose approximately $63 billion annually to lost productivity due to lack of sleep. Imagine what this number will look like when we consider the whole world. It is profoundly alarming, isn’t it? Hence, the best way to maintain health and optimum productivity worldwide is to get adequate sleep.
Organisations worldwide have understood the significance of napping and encourage napping in the workplace. Studies suggest that napping helps improve productivity and concentration and reduces stress and anxiety, with companies such as Google, Huffington, Ben & Jerry’s, and Capital One building special nap rooms for their employees.
4. Getting Rid of Job Titles
In 2018 a large number of organisations eliminated job titles to reduce the sense of hierarchy associated with traditional business structures. The viewpoint driving this decision is that job titles stifle creativity and result in an unproductive workforce. By doing away with titles it can nurture a more united team working towards a common task or vision, encouraging employees to more freely express their ideas and feel more involved and motivated in their position within a company.
A no job title policy promotes fairness and a no ego culture. Titles don’t make people wiser, stronger or closer to achieving their mission; instead, they cast an unnecessary shadow. Labels can make employees feel trapped and boxed in by limiting expectations. However, getting rid of the same liberates their true potential.
A lot of companies have taken to this trend including Blinklist, Zappos, Gusto, and CloudFlare. In abolishing job titles, Blinklist have shifted to a unique way of defining accountabilities. They develop roles that are a cluster of actions that need to be taken for the organisation to be successful. The roles lay down the accountabilities. These roles set out responsibilities and expectations clearly. Hence, there is no conflict between employees regarding responsibilities and expectations, unlike in an organisation that applies job titles.
5. Cash To Quit
Zappos is a reputable online shoe store. It has an extensive recruitment system that comprises of telephonic interviews, rigorous personal interviews, and other lengthy and thorough processes. Candidates selected through their meticulous recruitment procedure must also attend informal events such as lunch meetings and happy hours. Here they interact with current company employees and get familiar with the company’s work environment. The candidates who are hand-picked after the informal events are given onboard training and an unconventional offer of receiving $3000 to leave. About 3% of the candidates opt for this offer. However, the ones who choose to stay are the ones who resonate with the company’s vision, mission, philosophy, and culture. They are the ones who stick around for the long term.
This effective and efficient recruitment methodology topped the charts in the HR space in 2018, with a lot of companies taking Zappos’ approach and implementing this unique method to reduce their own employee attrition rate.
6. Investing in Employee Health
Employers worldwide are heavily investing in innovative employee health programmes that cater for financial wellness, mindfulness, mental health, nutrition requirement, exercise needs, and more. As the line between work and life continues to blur, organisations have started implementing a robust suite of well-being programs as a responsibility, and as a strategy to drive employee engagement, productivity, and retention.
Lately, employee well-being has emerged as a strategic priority worldwide. Facilities such as paid in-office medical screening, gym memberships, in-office activity rooms, flexible schedules, free and healthy snacking, and mental health counselling have become more prevalent in companies worldwide.
These innovative and prudent HR trends are expected to become imperative for leading, high-performance companies in the near future.
About the Author:
Jasika Adams is a writer with a passion for writing on emerging technologies in the areas of human resources, startups and business management. She is a talent acquisition manager currently associated with Advance Systems.
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