HR professionals in 2020 will be under immense pressure to stay on top of the latest trends and future-proof their workplace. Not least because it’s harder than ever to hire right now, with a distinct lack of people actively looking for a new job.
At the same time, employers are paying more attention to their retention efforts. Ongoing talent shortages mean organizations can’t afford to lose out on talented employees, and much of this responsibility lies with HR teams.
What other trends will be shaping the market in 2020?
In this article, we’ll talk you through just some of the employment trends which will continue to impact companies across the U.S in 2020, while also providing practical advice on how to manage them.
It’s Harder than Ever to Hire
Whether you’re relying on a staffing agency to help with your hiring efforts, or you have an in-house talent acquisition team, it’s important for HR teams to be aware of this issue.
After all, key areas that can help employers to target passive candidates include establishing a strong employer brand and using employee advocates to help push your roles; both of which HR can play a part in.
Alongside this, make sure that your times are using the right tools to source top talent. Whether you’re head-hunting directly via social media, or searching via a resume database, getting the most out of these platforms is crucial.
Retention is Crucial
As well as attracting new employees to your company, organizations are needing to focus more attention on retaining their existing members of staff. And this is where HR needs to lead the way.
A good idea is to set clear retention targets and give managers accountability for their teams. After all, it’s all very well putting in the effort to make employees want to stay in the company, but if your managers aren’t on board then you can’t expect this plan to pay off.
Alongside this, conduct employee satisfaction surveys to ensure that you understand what your teams love about working for you, as well as any areas for improvement. Employees want to feel as if their feedback is being addressed, so do your best to take positive action off the back of this.
More Generations in the Workplace
Another key trend that’s shaping the market is the fact that today’s workplace is home to multiple different generations, each with their own needs, preferences and agendas.
We already know that millennials get a pretty bad rep in the press when it comes to the workplace. And, while you might have finally got to grips with them, we now have Generation Z entering the workforce. Digitally savvy and diverse, you’ll need to think about adapting your current practices in order to keep these individuals engaged.
Finally, research from United Income shows that there are now more Americans working past 65; meaning you need to balance the needs of the younger generation with these older professionals.
How can you do it? Well, it’s all about recognizing and embracing their differences. Encourage them to learn from one another and be sure that your managers understand how each professional works best.
Remote & Flexible Working is on the Rise
Flexible and remote working has certainly been a talking point for a number of years now, but we’re really starting to see it take off across the U.S.
With cost saving opportunities for companies and their employees, many organizations are recognizing the benefits of allowing their employees to work a range of hours, or from home.
But how should HR teams manage this? Naturally, you need to consider how you are going to not only handle requests, but also the employees who do work offsite.
For example, do you have the right technology that will enable them to continue to do their job as normal? How will they interact with their colleagues? Are any changes going to impact your business?
Work on creating a clear policy and ensure that any agreements are included in employees’ contracts; this should also be communicated with their managers. You never know, offering flexible and/or remote working could help you to attract more applications to your jobs.
Stay on Top of These Employment Trends
These are just some of the employment trends that are shaping the market right now; as a HR professional, it’s important to stay on top of what’s happening in the industry, to ensure your workplace is matching the needs of employees.