Leaders at the coalface of Australian businesses are strong on technical know-how but weak on people skills, and having a negative impact on team member engagement, productivity and retention, two recent surveys suggest.
Many organisations are still using factory-era techniques to manage motivation, but these old tools fail to inspire and support creativity, collaboration and agility, according to author and motivation expert Dr Jason Fox.
HR has traditionally been good at collecting operational metrics, but less so at using this data strategically to inform workforce planning decisions, according to a talent management and recruitment specialist.
Confusion and myths about innovation often lead HR professionals to see it as outside their sphere of influence; in fact, HR can foster and reinforce innovation in a number of key ways, says human capital expert Richard Kantor.
HR salaries across Australia are expected to increase by about 4.7 per cent this year, but professionals changing roles in NSW - except those in key areas of demand - might need to take a paycut, according to an HR recruitment specialist.
As the jobs market heats up, many organisations will struggle this year to retain their employees, and those charged with the task in HR teams might be most at risk of leaving.
Here is a specialist's advice on how HR departments can maintain their own people and build their headcount this year, along with tips for HR candidates looking for their next role.
Simplified organisational structures will help businesses respond to an increasingly unpredictable global environment, but this will require HR departments to develop a deeper understanding of the business itself so they can align talent strategies with company objectives, according to new research from ManpowerGroup.
A key role for HR in the coming years will be to persuade managers against "talent hoarding" and convince them that their job is to develop, then let go of, their talented people, says global talent management expert Josh Bersin.
Employees need continuous reinforcement to make the most of learning and development initiatives, so in an environment where budgets are shrinking, organisations should adopt a mix of traditional development programs and low-cost newer solutions, according to research.
In a highly individualistic world where "people's loyalty is to their social and professional networks as much as to any one organisation", employers will need to fundamentally redesign work processes and procedures to attract and engage staff, according to Hay Group HR experts.
All employers should consider putting in place a workplace s-xual harassment prevention plan, even though such plans are only expressly prescribed in one jurisdiction, according to a risk management expert.
Recent events have shone a spotlight on whistleblowing, placing employers firmly on notice that their response to a protected disclosure could be subject to intense scrutiny. Watch this webcast to understand the role HR plays in this challenging space.
