The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of challenges in the workplace. Companies around the world have had to adapt to remote and hybrid work models, drastic organizational changes, and unprecedented uncertainty. As a result of this, the top priorities for HR leaders have shifted to adapt to the new world of work. And many of these priorities are here to stay.
According to a report by Gardner, developing critical skills and competencies is the top priority for HR managers in 2022. Other HR goals include improving the employee experience and developing a connected workplace culture, regardless of location.
In this post, we will take a look at the 5 top priorities for HR leaders in 2022 to help you understand what you should be focusing on in the coming year.
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Goal Setting and Priority Setting for HR Leaders
HR goal setting is a critical function of the human resources department. Without the effective implementation of HR goals, companies can become fragmented and lose their focus and sense of culture, hindering productivity and the achievement of overall strategic goals. This then has a knock-on effect on employee satisfaction and engagement, resulting in reduced retention and increased turnover.
Generally speaking, the top priorities for HR leaders tend to be:
- Developing and implementing HR strategies and initiatives aligned with the overall business strategy
- Serving as a link between management and the general workforce
- Nurturing a corporate culture that boosts morale and encourages employee engagement
- Identifying training needs and developing critical skills to promote the development of qualified and motivated employees
- Promoting a sense of team spirit, teamwork and collaboration.
As an HR manager, you need to create specific and measurable KPIs that take into account these objectives to help your company grow and develop into a happy and productive workforce, regardless of the changing landscape.
5 Top Priorities for HR Leaders in 2022
There are a number of HR trends to watch out for in 2022, many of which have resulted from a need to adapt to the new normal of work. As an HR manager, you can get a wealth of knowledge from traditional HR management books, but nothing can prepare you for the changing reality of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. It’s all about keeping your finger on the pulse and adapting to evolving business trends and changing workplace cultures.
With this in mind, we have compiled the 5 top priorities for HR leaders in 2022 to help you stay ahead of the game.
Employee Experience and Wellness
The challenges that both employers and employees have faced during the pandemic have highlighted the importance of employee health and wellness. They have also emphasized the value of cultivating a positive employee experience in order to retain talent and build a workplace culture where employees can thrive.
With the increasing popularity of remote and hybrid work models, more focus has been placed on finding a healthy work-life balance. Employers have also noticed the direct effect of stress and anxiety on productivity levels. If employees are healthy, happy and motivated, they are far more likely to be productive members of your team.
Going forward in 2022, one of your HR goals should be to focus on a more holistic view of employee wellbeing.
What do your employees need to be healthy and safe?
If your employees work from home, make sure they have the right tools, support, and resources to perform to the best of their abilities. Make sure your managers are aware of the dangers of stress and burnout. And, most importantly, track employee hours and PTO to make sure your workforce is taking the downtime it needs to rest and recharge.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI & B) will continue to be a top trend for HR leaders in 2022. The aim here is to make sure all your employees feel a sense of belonging and value within your organization. The best way to achieve this goal is by focusing on creating a working environment that benefits all employees, regardless of gender, ethnic background, socioeconomic background, and mental and physical ability.
It’s important here to go beyond the rhetoric and walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk. You need to create measurable KPIs for tracking diversity, equity, and inclusion in your workplace. And for this, you need reliable data. Run reports to measure retention rates of historically marginalized groups. Look at your recruitment, promotion, and development metrics to see if you can detect any potential bias in your processes.
You also need to talk to your employees to see how they perceive your level of DE&I. And once you’ve done all that, offer training to raise awareness of the value of an inclusive workforce.
Remote / Hybrid Workplace Culture
Of all the top priorities for HR leaders this coming year, this may be one of the biggest challenges. With many companies continuing to offer temporary or permanent remote or hybrid working models, creating an environment where all workers feel connected and a part of the team can be difficult.
How do you create a sense of unity and belonging if your employees are all working from different locations? How do you make people feel connected to the organizational culture if there are no in-person events, team-building exercises, or conversations in the break room?
The key is adapting your vision of workplace culture. Find different ways to help your team connect so that everyone feels united, wherever they are working from.
Encourage engagement and support personal development and freedom; reinforce a sense of shared purpose and remind each employee that what they do is important for the success of the company as a whole; create as many online communication channels as possible and hold regular online meetings and events. And most importantly, make sure all employees know that you are present and accessible whenever they need support.
Change Management
Another top goal for HR leaders this year is improving change management.
It’s important for HR managers to be aware of the effect of organizational shifts on employees. For one thing, it has led to a degree of stress, fatigue, and burnout. It’s therefore important for you as a leader to do what you can to support your staff as they adapt to a new way of working.
Perhaps the most effective strategy for this is founded on the principle of positive change. Focus on what works well and how changes to your work environment can benefit employees on an individual level. Build an exciting vision of how great things will be if everyone embraces these changes. Create a positive change experience. And, most importantly, focus on building trust and team cohesiveness.
Developing Critical Skills
The final goal that HR leaders will be prioritizing in 2022 is the development of critical skills. Organizational shifts have led to growing gaps in the workforce. This makes it more important than ever for employees to receive training in a variety of areas. The more skills they have, the better equipped they will be to bridge any skill gaps. HR leaders need to adopt a dynamic approach to reskilling talent. This will help companies keep up with the new normal and improve operational excellence.
Accomplish Your 2022 HR Goals with Our Software Solution
Once you have established your HR annual plan and you have determined your top priorities for HR leaders, you need the right tools to help you get where you need to be.
But what are the right tools?
One of the most effective resources to help you reach your goals is human resources management technology. The right HR technology can enhance your business functions, improve productivity and make all your HR processes run more smoothly. It provides all your leaders, managers, and administrators with access to the data they need. Plus, using a software solution to help your goal setting for HR managers improves the employee experience. It also facilitates an atmosphere of transparency, trust, and regular communication. These are all vital components of the business model of the future.
So, which solution works best?
Factorial’s ‘all-in-one’ centralized HR software platform includes a vast array of features that pushes your company to the next level and can help you meet your goals in HR for 2022. For one thing, our applications include time-off management, applicant tracking systems, performance management, reporting and analytics, and document management. Plus, by streamlining and automating many of your HR processes, you can spend more time on strategic planning to help you meet your objectives for the year.
And it doesn’t end there. We’ve also prepared a comprehensive 2022 People Manager Kit to help you digitalize your HR processes. This free toolkit contains all the resources you need to address all your top HR issues in 2022, including HR webinars, surveys, and eBooks. Everything you need to help you reach your goals this year!
