As 2021 is holding up as best as it can, the challenges that 2020 brought are still very much relevant. We’re all heard enough about the global pandemic and how drastically it changed the way we work, but the topic keeps coming back and adding new layers to it. Right now, employee experience and performance management will be more important than ever. As we try to navigate a world transformed by COVID-19, here are the key challenges that 2021 has for HR.
The “Old Normal” vs The “New Normal”
We are going circles in the uncharted territory of the post-pandemic world. What will the “new normal” look like for companies? What new ways of work should be normalized? These are the kind of questions every organization must be asking itself.
Because there is no single right answer, HR executives should take into account the role of skilled consultants that they have been taking on more frequently. Firms are having trouble with determining what “new normal” customs would be best for them in terms of both feasibility and employee needs.
For example, are their employees willing to continue working from home? Or would they rather go back to the office? And what can be done to improve remote workflow processes? If employees could be polled on those subjects, HR managers can provide key information that help make strategic decisions.
Remote Employee Development
Unfortunately, we probably won’t return to our office desks any time soon. Therefore, competency development, staff training, and upskilling should be properly done remotely.
2020 has taught us to maintain strong relationships between coworkers and hearty welcome newcomers to the company. In 2021, HR will need to integrate employees who don’t already have close work relationships. The new strategy is in building and growing partnerships by mentoring – sharing knowledge and skills with fellow coworkers. This will help to develop new capabilities of the employees.
Time Management
Most employees have struggled with time management and life-work balance while working from home during the pandemic. There can be many distractions that prevent them from being fully productive like pets, kids, noisy neighbors, etc.
Sometimes it can be more difficult to concentrate at home due to those disturbances. This is a new task for HR to concentrate ever more on communicating useful time-management techniques and show support for their remote staff.
Recruitment and Onboarding Experience
The process of recruitment and onboarding has overwhelmingly transformed in the last year. In most companies, it can use some small adjustments in order to achieve a better overall employee experience. Newly hired employees need to have a chance to be properly introduced to the team, get to know every team member on a more personal level.
Most of the time it will be done just virtually, but there are some ways to make them more feel like a part of the company. For example, it can just take to deliver a welcome pack, a signed card with a company logo, and a good integrational call with the team. Other ideas to help the onboarding process are a buddy/mentor system, virtual happy hours, and daily catch-ups with the team.
You can also present an organizational structure so employees can understand who is who. Make sure it specifies people’s area of expertise so they can know to whom to reach out should the question arise. The new recruits will be more committed and dedicated to the company as they get to know their colleagues better.
Focusing on performance management data
Data-driven performance management systems are now more essential than ever. Managers can’t literally see how their employees are operating remotely. An effective HR system allows us to keep an eye on how each employee is performing and when/if they need assistance. They can conveniently evaluate their success toward their objectives without having to see someone in person.
Take these suggestions into consideration when facing the new HR challenges, and you’ll be on the fast track of growth in 2021. Ensure that leaders of your organization are aware of these goals so that you can work together on them in the coming year.
Skilo is a Salesforce native app that provides a ready-to-use talent management solution. It streamlines, simplifies, and unifies the end-to-end process of talent acquisition, development, and retention. Skilo provides performance management, competency frameworks, along with skills development, career planning, training management, feedback, reviews, and social employee engagement. For more information, please visit www.skilohr.com or Skilo Linkedin profile.
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