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March 3, 2022
Human Resource (HR) professionals have been the unsung heroes of every office during the ongoing pandemic. From navigating remote work to finding creative solutions for how to retain employees, HR has had their work cut out for them. As we wrap up the second quarter, what’s in store for the remainder of 2022?
- Mental Health
According to Forbes, the importance placed on proper mental health has been top of mind for employees. The pandemic has proven that employee burnout is often due to a variety of stressors that are very real and need to be addressed accordingly. Companies can improve their staff’s well-being by taking the time for weekly wellness check-ins, creating safe spaces for employees and offering more flexible schedules to accommodate work-life balance.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
For many years, lack of diversity and inclusion have been prevalent for companies. Recently, a push for companies to strive for a more inclusive working environment in leadership has taken place in every industry. DEI: How to Build an Inclusive Climate in the Workplace outlines exactly how companies can make these strides and improve their multicultural presence within their organizations. DEI training helps lead to a more accepting office atmosphere by diminishing discrimination and building respect for all.
- Career Experiences
We have seen a shift in the longevity of employees at their companies. Rather than staying long-term, they are more likely to move on more quickly in search of new and different opportunities. The Academy to Innovate HR states, “Employees between the ages of 18 and 24 change jobs 5.7 times in their career.” In the wake of this, many organizations are deciding to offer more career experiences for their employees, so they gain career enrichment and maintain their desired level of satisfaction. Examples of this include department transfers within the company, promotions or changes in responsibilities of their current role.
- Matching Values
During the Great Resignation, employees are becoming more and more selective in determining who they work for and represent. According to Forbes, employees have expressed a desire to develop their careers with companies whose values match their own. In their research, Forbes found that more than half of their respondents stated they would quit their job if their company’s values did not align with their own. In addition, only one in four workers are likely to accept a job with a company whose values do not align to their own. Companies can adjust to this by listening to their current employee values and working towards implementing programs to ensure everyone within the organization is heard.
- Rise in Internal Mobility
Promoting from within your organization not only helps to improve employee experiences but also helps to gain loyalty and retention from current staff members. LinkedIn’s Global Talent Trends 2020 report reported that 81 percent of talent professionals agreed that hiring internally improved employee retention, 69 percent agreed it accelerated new-hire productivity and 63 percent saw accelerated hiring processes. Internal hiring and promotions support not only the employees, but the company as well.