Key HR Trends for 2021
It’s safe to say everyone is glad to see the back of 2020 - but what does 2021 have in store for your HR team?
As we see the latest set of restrictions come into place in the fight against Covid-19, your HR team will find itself faced with similar challenges to 2020, alongside constant change in expectations from staff, recruits and management.
Let’s delve into some of the key trends in the HR industry for 2021, from recruitment and bonus schemes, to workplace benefits and wellbeing initiatives.
2021 vs. 2020: Any Change?
So, what will change this year? As we approach a full year of varying restrictions and challenges to Irish businesses due to the ongoing pandemic, it’s hard to see how 2021 could be different to 2020.
Restrictions to business travel, remote working, technology to work from home, juggling care responsibilities whilst working - these are all challenges that your staff will continue to face this year, vaccine or no vaccine. And your HR team will have to continually foresee these challenges throughout their operations.
However, 2021 might see your business begin to stem the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, bringing with it new opportunities for your HR team to help boost your business through recruitment, bonus schemes and other staff initiatives to boost performance, morale and job quality.
Whatever 2021 has to offer for your business, here’s some key trends for your HR team to look out for:
1. Time to Perfect Remote Working
It’s safe to say that the first 6 months of Covid-19 were a trial run for remote working for many businesses. Whilst some workplaces may have already had in place working from home procedures, others were forced to introduce this into their workplace practices.
In 2021, this will still be a key feature - and it’s time to use your HR team to perfect remote working. Perhaps you haven’t managed to put in place a robust procedure on how to conduct remote working, whether it be using Teams or Zoom, communicating via Email, WhatsApp or Slack, or a weekly meeting schedule. Or members of your team have struggled to get to grips with these technologies to ensure their remote working practices are just as efficient as being in the office.
Now is the time to perfect remote working - use your HR team to identify what you are doing well or not so well when it comes to working from home, and ensure you iron these issues out to make 2021 successful for your business, regardless of where your colleagues are working from.
2. Online Onboarding Here to Stay
Like it or loathe it, video interviews, assessments and training seems likely to stay as a key trend in 2021. Whilst most businesses adopting some form of a hybrid in 2020 to ensure staff could meet potential colleagues at least once in the flesh (albeit with PPE regalia in tow), companies found themselves using online recruitment and onboarding methods more than ever before.
As Ireland continues to fight the pandemic, alongside time constraints from remote working practices and the ongoing Brexit transition, your colleagues may continue to request that online recruitment continues for the foreseeable.
As we head into 2021, it’s important that you adopt this key trend as a lasting one; check that your HR colleagues have the correct tools to ensure successful online recruitment and onboarding in 2021. Listen to their concerns and address them to ensure your talent drive isn’t impacted by ongoing challenges this year.
3. Morale Is Key
It’s safe to say that staff parties, coffee mornings or business breakfasts will remain a thing of the past for some time in 2021, at least until the future vaccine programme kicks into play.
And while organising events will not be high on the agenda for your HR colleagues, at least for the first half of 2021, it’s important to use your HR team to keep morale high.
Organise that Zoom Quiz, work from home gift package or new staff incentive scheme. However you decide to reward staff, remember that their morale is key for your performance this year. Don’t forget the social aspect of your responsibility to your staff, regardless of whether they are in the office or at home in 2021.
It’s safe to say everyone is glad to see the back of 2020 - but what does 2021 have in store for your HR team?
As we see the latest set of restrictions come into place in the fight against Covid-19, your HR team will find itself faced with similar challenges to 2020, alongside constant change in expectations from staff, recruits and management.
Let’s delve into some of the key trends in the HR industry for 2021, from recruitment and bonus schemes, to workplace benefits and wellbeing initiatives.
2021 vs. 2020: Any Change?
So, what will change this year? As we approach a full year of varying restrictions and challenges to Irish businesses due to the ongoing pandemic, it’s hard to see how 2021 could be different to 2020.
Restrictions to business travel, remote working, technology to work from home, juggling care responsibilities whilst working - these are all challenges that your staff will continue to face this year, vaccine or no vaccine. And your HR team will have to continually foresee these challenges throughout their operations.
However, 2021 might see your business begin to stem the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit, bringing with it new opportunities for your HR team to help boost your business through recruitment, bonus schemes and other staff initiatives to boost performance, morale and job quality.
Whatever 2021 has to offer for your business, here’s some key trends for your HR team to look out for:
1. Time to Perfect Remote Working
It’s safe to say that the first 6 months of Covid-19 were a trial run for remote working for many businesses. Whilst some workplaces may have already had in place working from home procedures, others were forced to introduce this into their workplace practices.
In 2021, this will still be a key feature - and it’s time to use your HR team to perfect remote working. Perhaps you haven’t managed to put in place a robust procedure on how to conduct remote working, whether it be using Teams or Zoom, communicating via Email, WhatsApp or Slack, or a weekly meeting schedule. Or members of your team have struggled to get to grips with these technologies to ensure their remote working practices are just as efficient as being in the office.
Now is the time to perfect remote working - use your HR team to identify what you are doing well or not so well when it comes to working from home, and ensure you iron these issues out to make 2021 successful for your business, regardless of where your colleagues are working from.
2. Online Onboarding Here to Stay
Like it or loathe it, video interviews, assessments and training seems likely to stay as a key trend in 2021. Whilst most businesses adopting some form of a hybrid in 2020 to ensure staff could meet potential colleagues at least once in the flesh (albeit with PPE regalia in tow), companies found themselves using online recruitment and onboarding methods more than ever before.
As Ireland continues to fight the pandemic, alongside time constraints from remote working practices and the ongoing Brexit transition, your colleagues may continue to request that online recruitment continues for the foreseeable.
As we head into 2021, it’s important that you adopt this key trend as a lasting one; check that your HR colleagues have the correct tools to ensure successful online recruitment and onboarding in 2021. Listen to their concerns and address them to ensure your talent drive isn’t impacted by ongoing challenges this year.
3. Morale Is Key
It’s safe to say that staff parties, coffee mornings or business breakfasts will remain a thing of the past for some time in 2021, at least until the future vaccine programme kicks into play.
And while organising events will not be high on the agenda for your HR colleagues, at least for the first half of 2021, it’s important to use your HR team to keep morale high.
Organise that Zoom Quiz, work from home gift package or new staff incentive scheme. However you decide to reward staff, remember that their morale is key for your performance this year. Don’t forget the social aspect of your responsibility to your staff, regardless of whether they are in the office or at home in 2021.
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