The 2024 HR playbook

Numerous articles were written at the end of 2023 on what the strategic challenges and trends would be for the HR function in 2024 and what they should prioritise. Amongst the topics highlighted there were a few standouts including HR technology and generative AI, emerging generational challenges in the workplace, office and employee experience, upskilling and reskilling, flexible working and employee retention. During the first half of this year, we have been talking to our clients to better understand these key HR challenges that are both current and emerging for them, and how these compare with what HR commentators predicted.

Key themes in HR

Within HR, there are several key themes being focused on: enhancing operational efficiency and margin improvement; leveraging technology, including Generative AI, for transformation and innovation; attracting and retaining scarce talent; and boosting employee engagement.

The trouble of retaining talent

It is clear that for many businesses, finding and retaining talent is becoming harder. To enhance internal mobility, some organisations are supplementing niche recruitment support with greater investment in AI and Machine Learning-powered talent marketplace technology. The ultimate aim of this approach is to connect employees with internal opportunities more efficiently. While it doesn’t fully address the problem of talent scarcity, it boosts career development and employee engagement opportunities. Moving forward, HR will need to adapt assessment methodologies to identify new skills and competencies as AI impacts existing roles and creates new ones. Additionally, securing the best AI talent to meet organisational needs will be crucial.

HR tech-revolution

The HR function is also at the heart of job redesign, change management and communication in this AI revolution. With the rise in offshoring, many employees in text and data-heavy roles are concerned with job redundancy. However, AI has the potential to boost employee productivity and create new roles by transforming workforce interactions with technology. By embracing rather than resisting AI, businesses can empower their teams to re-skill and gain a basic understanding of how technology can be used to advance their careers.

We are seeing the opportunity for HR technology transformation as very much still in-play. Organisations are increasingly investing in their People and Talent platforms to create a seamless self-service transactional environment, with the aim to enhance employee experience while also lowering costs. Many - if not most - enterprise-wide products now embed machine-learning and Gen AI into their offering. For organisations who match these technology and transformation products and services correctly, they will see improvements in operational efficiencies and stronger margin results.

Flexible working - still part of the conversation

Continuing to remain front of mind for HR functions are the topics of employee experience and flexible working - something we see as staying so for the foreseeable future. From speaking with our clients and wider network, we know many organisations still have the dilemma of how to balance their flexible working offering with building their internal culture and team communities from face-to-face interaction in the office. Redesigning office spaces and improving technology are two strategies to enhance overall employee experience. However, it is crucial for the office to foster collaboration, productivity, and personal career development, and this is hard to achieve if teams are not coming together in person. We are seeing increased pressure on managers to be accountable for this and drive its delivery.

Sounds familiar? Let's chat!

If any of these themes resonate with what you are experiencing within your team, or perhaps are not being addressed by your organisation, let's chat! I have insights and solutions on how to help boost your team, driving efficiencies and innovate your hiring strategies.