10 HR Trends for 2022: From Adaptation to Transformation

Summary

Tom Haak, director of the HR Trend Institute, presents key HR trends for 2022, emphasizing the shift from adaptation to transformation. Highlights include embracing complexity, HR as activists, a broader ecosystem focus, and the end of the traditional employee model. Other trends include leveraging the metaverse for employee experiences, creating forgiving technologies, prioritizing diversity in recruitment, and fostering genuine empathy. Haak also discusses life coaching in the workplace and the evolving structure of HR, divided into operations, strategy, and people success. These trends aim to inspire organizations to rethink HR and its role in fostering workplace transformation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embrace Complexity: HR should move beyond simplified models and embrace diversity and independent thinking.
• 😀 HR as Activists: HR must take a stand on issues like gender pay gaps and inequality, actively advocating for change.
• 😀 HR for the Ecosystem: HR should expand its scope to include not just employees but also candidates, clients, suppliers, and communities.
• 😀 The End of the Employee: Traditional employee roles are evolving toward more independence and self-management.
• 😀 The Rise of the Metaverse: HR should explore the potential of the Metaverse to create immersive and engaging work experiences.
• 😀 Forgiving Technologies: Technology should be flexible and adaptable, improving user experience by adjusting to individual needs.
• 😀 Recruiting for Diversity: Stop the “war for talent” narrative and focus on recruiting from a more diverse and inclusive talent pool.
• 😀 Real Empathy: Organizations need to put people first, understanding their needs deeply to foster stronger connections and better outcomes.
• 😀 Life Coaching: Companies should support employee well-being beyond work, focusing on personal growth and life improvement.
• 😀 The Split of HR: HR will divide into three main areas—operations, strategy/architects, and people success—each specializing in different aspects of HR functions.

Q & A

What is the overarching theme of HR trends in 2022, according to Tom Haak?

The overarching theme of HR trends in 2022 is moving from adaptation to transformation. While adaptation was the focus in the previous year, 2022 marks the year of real transformation within the HR landscape.

What does 'embracing complexity' mean in the context of HR trends?

'Embrace complexity' means moving away from overly simplistic HR models that try to fit reality into predefined frameworks. Tom Haak suggests that HR should embrace diversity and complexity, thinking independently rather than adhering strictly to traditional models.

How does Tom Haak describe the role of HR as activists?

Tom Haak argues that HR should not be passive bystanders but should take action on issues like gender pay gaps and other forms of injustice in the workplace. HR should actively stand up for fairness and equity rather than just analyzing and reporting problems.

What is the concept of 'HR for the ecosystem'?

'HR for the ecosystem' suggests that HR should not just focus on employees within the organization but also consider external stakeholders such as candidates, flexible workers, suppliers, and even the broader community or society. HR should contribute to the organization’s broader ecosystem.

What does 'the end of the employee' mean in HR trends for 2022?

The 'end of the employee' refers to a shift towards greater independence for workers. Employees are increasingly self-managing and less reliant on traditional structures of control, such as headquarters or managers, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 crisis.

How does Tom Haak view the role of the metaverse in HR?

Tom Haak sees the metaverse as a significant development for creating immersive and engaging experiences for employees. He encourages HR to start thinking about how to use the metaverse to improve interactions and experiences within the organization.

What are 'forgiving technologies' in HR?

'Forgiving technologies' refer to HR tech that adapts to users' needs rather than forcing them to conform to rigid workflows. These technologies are more flexible and considerate of the user’s digital literacy, offering a better and more personalized experience.

Why is recruiting for diversity an important trend, according to Tom Haak?

Recruiting for diversity is important because organizations often limit their search to a narrow pool of candidates. Haak encourages HR to look beyond traditional categories and recruit from a more diverse group, acknowledging that talent is abundant in many different demographics.

What does 'real empathy' look like in HR?

Real empathy in HR involves deeply understanding the needs, desires, and motivations of employees, not just treating them as resources. It’s about moving beyond superficial efforts and genuinely prioritizing people and their well-being, inside and outside of work.

What is the trend of life coaching in HR, and why is it gaining importance?

Life coaching in HR is the trend of organizations taking a broader interest in the personal lives of employees, helping them grow both professionally and personally. This includes support for financial well-being, relationships, and overall life satisfaction, moving beyond the traditional scope of workplace-focused HR.

What is the predicted split in HR functions, and what does it entail?

The predicted split in HR functions will divide HR into three main areas: operations, strategy, and people success. HR operations focus on managing the HR machine and employee experience, HR strategy aligns HR interventions with organizational goals, and people success helps employees reach their full potential.