Responsible business and sustainability and a clear focus on diversity and inclusion are two of the key trends that will shape the future of HR and ‘people professionals’ globally, according to the latest CIPD report.
The other key trends that will influence people professions, include digital transformation, internal change and diversifying employment relations. The new report, from the professional body for HR and people development, sets out the five key trends that will have an impact on the future world of work and how these will shape the HR/people profession as well as the roles and capabilities required.
People Profession 2030: A collective view of future trends is the result of a joint collaboration between the CIPD and hundreds of people professionals from around the world, to create a collective understanding of the future of the profession. It combines findings from the CIPD’s People Profession 2030 Hackathon and roundtables with senior HR leaders that took place earlier this year.
As inclusion becomes a key element of organisational strategies going forward, people professionals will be important drivers of change and improvements on equality, inclusion and diversity, in their organisations, according to the report. Sustainability and responsible business is also key as there is an increased demand from employees, regulators, investors, customers and consumers for a more values-based, purpose-driven approach to business. People professionals will therefore become “the heart of organisational purpose and champion responsible people management practices”, the report points out.
ENSURING FAIRNESS & OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL
People professionals will also need to understand how to put people at the heart of digital transformation and ensure fairness and positive opportunities for all, and not just those who are tech-savvy. The profession will also need to harness digitalisation and automation to improve processes and generate insights, for example using data and analytics for increased strategic impact, revealed the findings.
Additionally, HR/people professionals will also need to know how to diversify employment relationships as they will play a crucial role in supporting line managers to fairly and effectively manage hybrid teams with different work schedules and working arrangements. This will include contract and gig workers, those in portfolio careers, as well as employees working part-time and remotely.
Internal change will also impact their role because of evolving organisational models, structures and processes. The modern workplace will require agile, adaptable business models, and “managers and employers will need support to thrive in a changing world – a trend that has been accelerated through the business response to the Covid-19 crisis”, noted the report.
URGENT PRIORITIES
“The key trends identified in this latest report help us to look towards longer-term priorities and think strategically about how people professionals can put themselves at the heart of business. This important work, co-created with people professionals around the world, helps us all to drive and shape the future of the profession over the next decade,” stated Peter Cheese, Chief Executive of the CIPD.
2020 has been “a monumental year for the people profession and for many organisations it has highlighted the importance of the profession and function like never before” added Cheese. “The demands placed on our profession since the pandemic began have never been greater and we have seen many teams and individuals rise to the challenge. There are a number of urgent priorities for HR teams in the short-term, not least the many adaptations to working practices, wellbeing, skills and diversity and inclusion, but we must still be thinking beyond the current crisis.”
“The CIPD is committed to supporting the profession to position for positive impact and growth in the future of work, and will equip people professionals with the tools and resources they need to thrive and influence the direction of their organisations for the better,” concluded Cheese.
Click here for more information about the report.
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