What will human resources look like in 2022? Many experts predict a major transformation, with artificial intelligence and other technological advances playing a key role. Here we’ll look for some of the changes in store.

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Coming back to the topic, whether you’re an HR professional or simply interested in the topic, keep reading to learn more.

What Happened?

A three-day conference for HR executives and entrepreneurs occurs under “HR Transform 2022,” where participants learn about the future workplace.

This conference was organized around four themes: workplace change, social impact, human first, and digital future. Microsoft, TripAdvisor, Zoom, Nextdoor, and other top executives met for three days to discuss how HR professionals may change the corporate environment and the employee experience.

Catchphrase for the Event

Before leaving the stage, almost every speaker dropped the F-bomb, regardless of the topic or audience: flexibility. According to the panelists at HR Transform and at least one recent poll, employees want to control their employment journey. It’s up to HR executives to provide that flexibility, whether it’s allowing employees to work remotely, a career path with upskilling possibilities, or a greater variety of employee perks.

During a session on the changing workplace, executives should aim to shift the paradigm of working from the office. Coming to the office should be perceived as a destination rather than an obligation. And something that attracts individuals is when their job produces a beneficial difference—a return on their investment, i.e., their time. So allowing them to have flexibility in work is an incredible way to show that you value their time.

Panelists were even willing to abandon the idea of HR as we know it, meaning moving forward and abandoning the notion of human resources altogether, focusing instead on the end-to-end employee experience.

The discussion further addressed the five E’s of employee experience, including employee empowerment and engagement.

Employee Wellbeing

Some discussions focused on retaining the human connection and making time for shoot-the-shit talks as employees continued to work remotely, at least part-time. The more connections we can make personally, the stronger working relationships we can cultivate.

In 2021, mindful managers prioritized establishing a culture of trust where team members feel safe to communicate their concerns openly. We’re all different snowflakes in every way. And we need to embrace this individuality and establish an atmosphere that allows you to feel as though, ‘maybe I’m not going to tell my manager what I require, but it’s nice to know I can express myself freely’.

Compensation in Remote Working

The question presented was whether you think your employee who relocated to Tampa from San Francisco will get the same compensation as before?

And the hotly debated subject was addressed by executives from Affirm, Allbirds, and Dropbox, all of which now have a remote-first employment model that adjusts pay based on employees’ geographical locations and other criteria.

Explaining Affirm’s decision to accept a geographically adjusted pay scale, they’re also considering paying a national rate. However, they thought their engineers in San Francisco would have something to say about going down to the national level. So they went down a different geo-based route.

DEI&B:

LifeLabs Learning, Aesop, Level, and Globally Bold’s CEOs met for a panel on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to discuss how dissimilarity must be considered throughout each aspect of HR processes by a company—from selection to retention and growth.

According to them, people need to value the importance of creating a secure place for speaking up and challenging the norm by offering a voice to employees, especially members of underrepresented groups.

We’re Here for It

The future of HR is bright because it appears to be in good hands. Change is inevitable, even if it means the dissolution of an open-ended employee experience. Of course, HR professionals can thrive with the right tools and strategies in place in the coming years. And we’re here for it.

It’s frightening to lead in this field and realize that you can achieve your goal while failing. But staying ahead of the curve is crucial, and events like HR Transform are a step in the right direction.