Introduction: We have invited members of the Payslip leadership team to give their views on some trending topics in their respective fields. This is the third in our series of blogs from Payslip leaders.
Here, Ann-Marie Smith, VP of People here at Payslip shares some insight on some potential trending topics that may hit the HR space this year.
AI will play a role in a recruitment
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize HR recruitment strategies by offering a range of benefits across the recruitment process. Like everybody else, I read lots of different information about artificial intelligence but struggle to find a suitable level of clarity as there is just so much information and disinformation out there!
But there are a few areas that appear quite plausible and even logical, and I would expect to see some of these implemented across HR practises in 2024
Candidate Screening: AI can efficiently screen and shortlist candidates, helping HR identify suitable candidates in a much faster period of time. This will help speed up the hiring process while also enabling HR professionals to respond to candidates in faster and more appropriate ways.
Talent Pool Management: AI can help in building and maintaining a talent pool by keeping a database of potential candidates. Fast keyword matches and screening against open vacancies will help HR professionals to quickly route qualified candidates to suitable opportunities within the organization.
Faster Employee Onboarding: AI has great potential to make useful information available quickly to new employees who have just joined an organisation. This can help them navigate steep learning curves and become productive quickly. An example would be using chatbots to respond to their questions and guide them through aspects of onboarding- just a faster and more efficient process.
Internal Mobility and Identifying Talent: AI can be leveraged in spotting talented internal candidates and matching their skills with open opportunities. It can also be used to help with identifying talent gaps inside an organisation.
Task Automation: like a lot of business-critical departments, human resources has a need for high volume administration work. AI can potentially take over a large number of administrative tasks and automate them- freeing up HR professionals to focus on providing value-added support to employees.
AI should never be allowed to replace the human experience in recruitment but to assist HR professionals in performing their tasks more efficiently. The human touch remains essential in the recruitment process, and AI should be used as a tool to support the process rather than replace it.
Calls for return to office
This is a controversial topic and one that divides opinions among both employees and HR leaders at global organisations around the world. Many companies are demanding employees to return to the office in the belief that a traditional office environment can lead to increased focus, productivity, and employee retention. It is a debatable point, and I am open to both sides of the argument. What I believe is that there has to be a flexible view to all of this and that any company who takes a rigid or hardline approach to it will likely suffer some unintended consequences.
I get that some companies are concerned about the potential negative impact on company culture and employee engagement if they continue with remote work policies. Some are choosing to offer perks such as commuter benefits, child-care support, and catered meals to incentivize employees to return to the office. I have my doubts that such methods will work as many people who have a preference for working from home value things like work /life balance ahead of these incentives while others simply have at home caring duties to prioritise. So I can also understand why the push for a full return to the office has been met with resistance from some employees. Many argue that the traditional five-day-a-week, nine-to-five work schedule is outdated, and that the concept of spending five days a week in the office is a thing of the past- everyone has their own view!
Stay human as tech evolves
As technology continues to evolve, especially in the field of AI, it is important for employees to stay human and maintain values, ethics, and empathy. It is all too easy to let technology take over and lose the important connections that happen as a result of day-to-day human interactions
As we continue to develop new technologies, it is important to consider how they will impact society and to create policies that ensure that everyone can benefit from them. Not everybody loves digital experiences, and some people feel genuinely alienated by the latest technology advances.
As technology becomes more integrated into our lives, I am seeing a greater need to develop new skills to maintain the human approach, such as empathy and social interaction. Ultimately, it is up to us to ensure that technology is used in a way that benefits everyone and that we continue to prioritize our values and ethics as we adapt to new challenges.
