The changing roles for Human Resources professionals in 2020
Covid-19 has significantly changed the global economy and every facet of business in terms of how we all work and live. Companies are undergoing structural changes, transforming and innovating to adapt to the new normal. These unprecedented times have shone a spotlight on Human Resources professionals who stepped up as strong allies for business leaders to keep companies going; and keep employees safe, healthy and productive.
Human Resources leaders have been taking centre stage in:
- Partnering Chief Executive Officers and business leaders in ensuring business sustainability and employee well-being.
- Communicating with employees to address concerns and queries on both the professional and personal front.
Hiring outlook for HR roles in Singapore
As a result, albeit with caution, we see continued demand for Human Resources professionals. Top priorities of HR Leaders and key challenges being managed include:
- Providing direction, confidence and resilience, directly partnering CEOs and senior leaders.
- Contextualising Covid-19 for the workforce and managing communication on how it is impacting the organisation, and actionable strategies and initiatives to work at this time, ensuring an excellent employee experience
- Business continuity planning and management addressing organisational structure, operations, technology infrastructure and processes to ensure business continuity and productivity (e-onboardings and e-exits for example, are being actively adopted).
- Ensuring adherence to latest workplace regulations, and keeping abreast of government advice and guidelines.
- Safeguarding employee wellbeing by promoting and ensuring mental and emotional health.
- Addressing future organisation and structure, reskilling and upskilling.
- Change in engagement models, developing collaboration models to enhance work efficiency.
- Aligning Learning & Development to future skills needed, and leveraging digital technologies to create more bespoke and employee-owned styles of learning.
Under Covid-19, skills such as tech-savviness, commercial acumen, agility, and the creativity in re-imagining HR are even more crucial for HR professionals to succeed under these market conditions. HR Leaders are playing increasingly central roles in the evolving strategy of any organisation, whether it is bringing it through uncertainty and turbulence, or driving reinvention, innovation and growth.
Take a look at the 2020 Predictions vs Reality mini-series so far:
- Overview: 2020 Predictions vs Reality
- Sales & Marketing: 2020 Predictions vs Reality
- Consumer & Retail: 2020 Predictions vs Reality
- Food & Nutrition: 2020 Predictions vs Reality
- Semiconductor: 2020 Predictions vs Reality
- Chemical, Commodities, Oil & Gas: 2020 Predictions vs Reality
- Supply Chain & Procurement: 2020 Predictions vs Reality