HR teams have had to adjust quickly to the new hybrid workforce, capitalizing on technology that allows for remote work to blend seamlessly with office collaboration. A number of key cloud-based tools will continue to be employed:
- Virtual onboarding
- Online collaboration tools
- Digital workflow & office productivity tech
- Fully automated payroll systems
With access to remote workers, HR teams also are no longer constricted to local hires; by adopting artificial intelligence for online recruitment, they can now source employees with varied skills and experiences from anywhere on the planet.
Employee Experience
Covid-19 has had a profound impact on the employee experience and the work:life balance. People were forced out of the office and generally left behind their workplace identities, while navigating the many challenges of the pandemic at home, from creating proper home office space, to concerns about daycare, and worries about personal and family health and safety.
Striking a balance between team engagement and productivity with employees’ emotional and mental health? That’s a challenge HR professionals will have to continue to negotiate in 2021 and beyond, amid a pandemic whose end is still uncertain, and as remote work continues to be the norm.
HR teams will play a key role in using various digital technologies and employee experience platforms to integrate practices such as employee training and development, engagement and team building, along with well-being.
Post-Pandemic Recovery
With vaccines being distributed, we’re starting to see the light at the end of the COVIDCovid tunnel. Companies emerging on the other side will find a brave new world and, as discussed above, brave new challenges for their HR departments.
Human Resources professionals are on the frontlines of the digital workplace. HR must continue to partner with IT to further develop platforms and tools that will enable a thriving transition to the new remote workforce. They’ll need to drive the adoption and success of these HR technologies with employee retraining and upskilling.
HR tech in 2021 and beyond will be the driving force behind creating a successful new digital workplace — one that supports employee engagement and efficiency, while ensuring workers feel supported and connected…wherever they may be.