As we bring 2022 to a close, I anticipate that 2023 is going to be another tough year for HR.
However, you won’t find me joining the ‘bandwagon brigade’, which is one of the things the HR industry is guilty of. Jumping from one new trend to the next without being masters of the first.
Here’s what I feel will be key as we head into 2023.
Getting back to basics
Instead of delivering surface-level quick fixes with the next so-called trend, it’s time to take go back to basics and cover the hygiene factors.
So many companies are focused on spending time and money on new initiatives but have failed at the basics.
Pay people on time, make sure their pay is correct, make sure they have the right tools to do the job and make sure their recruitment process and onboarding is conducted well.
The first few days in any company are critical and form the basis of their opinion and whether they want to stay.
‘Here’s a laptop and a pad, oh and that’s Bob, he works here too.’ This is not a great onboarding experience, but I see it far too often!
Retention of talent
2023 is going to be difficult when it comes to the retention of people.
We’ve already seen the great resignation and quietly quitting all having significant impact on businesses.
Despite the fear of recession and seeing many ‘green banners’ go up on Linkedin from people seeking work, I am seeing just as many with ‘I have a new role’.
So despite market conditions, I’m confident that people will leave companies if they can’t provide them with what they need.
Sustainability and energy-saving companies are areas of growth and ones to watch next year.
Restructuring
We expect with the instability of current markets post-Brexit, poor leadership from the government, rising interest rates and cost of living crisis, to see a spike in redundancies resizing, downsizing, de-cruiting (What a word to describe human beings losing their jobs!)
There’s a lot of talk of recession and I’m already seeing a number of companies getting ready or already starting to reduce their headcount as a way of steering through what is yet to come.
There will be much to do in this area for HR.
