HR Trends in 2022

4 minute read

Human Resource (HR) departments are given more responsibility each year, often without budgets that match these changes. As a result, HR teams must stay on top of trends and constantly innovate to remain competitive in today’s labor market.

Here are five HR trends that employers should watch for in 2022.

Hybrid Work Sustainability

For many employers, the hybrid workplace is here to stay. According to a Gartner survey, 95% of HR leaders expect that at least some of their employees will work remotely after the pandemic. What was once considered a novelty is becoming a new standard in 2022. This means adapting and tailoring policies and processes to support hybrid work and equally accommodating all employees.

In the beginning of the pandemic, employers were focused on agility and adaptability to remote and hybrid workplaces. Now, the focus is shifting toward creating a sustainable work model that meets the needs of both their business and employees in 2022.

Attraction/Retention Amid Labor Shortages

Employee attraction and retention have become major obstacles for most employers and will likely continue through 2022. The industry predicts that as the pandemic progresses, many employees will voluntarily leave their jobs for better compensation, benefits, and workplace environment factors such as work-life balance and remote or hybrid arrangements.

To meet employees’ current needs, many employers have explored evaluating compensation, offering greater workplace flexibility, offering more upskilling and development opportunities, and expanding benefits offerings.

Increased Investment in HR Technology

Many employers are embracing more HR technology to help automate their processes and create efficiencies. When technology is used to create efficiencies, the HR department can shift their focus from administrative tasks to the actual employees.

Here are some current HR trending technologies for 2022:

• Employee benefits administration
• Cloud-based workplace management
• Employee self-service portal
• Learning and development
• HR automation
• Onboard and offboarding
• Virtual recruitment

Growing Demand for New Skill Sets

According to Gartner data, the number of skills required for a single job increases by 10% per year, as new skills replace old ones. Organizations are embracing a dynamic approach to reskilling talent to shift vital employee skills and help develop skills as they become relevant.

Although necessary skill sets will vary by organization and industry, some general proficiencies for potential and current employees may include communication, digital (platform) capabilities, and emotional intelligence (motivation, empathy, self-regulation, and social skills).

Continued Focus on Well-being and Employee Health

Employee health and safety will remain a top concern and priority for both employers and employees. To ensure employees feel safe in the workplace, employers accommodate requests for remote work and offer on-site alternatives.

From a holistic approach, employee mental well-being will also remain a priority. Many employees are still struggling to find a healthy work-life balance since the pandemic began. Caregiving, nurturing mental health, and adjusting to remote work will likely remain top issues for employers to address. Employers who embed well-being across all essential people practices will likely best defend and support health and wellness for the workforce.

Summary

Many HR functions were quickly reimagined in 2021 due to the pandemic. 2022 is the year to elevate those strategies to be sustainable for this year and beyond. Download the bulletin for more details.

This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state, and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.