HR Industry Brief

People have long worried that robots and computers will take over their jobs. However, increasingly organizations are seeing that technology actually enables human employees to work smarter, better, and happier. Here’s why automation in the workplace is a good thing for your teams:

• It improves employee satisfaction. In one survey, 89% of workers say that automation has made them more efficient. Nearly two-thirds say that technology used in the workplace is an important consideration when they are weighing a job move.
• It makes workers better at their jobs. Instead of replacing humans, automation reduces people’s workloads and increases the time workers have to focus on complex and creative tasks.

• Communicating the benefits in a way that resonates with them and addresses their concerns.
• Asking employees to look for automation opportunities.
• Making automation a no-code … [Read more...] about (FEATURED BRIEF) Why Automation Can Actually Improve Employee Engagement

Politics in the workplace are causing concern, controversy, and conflict. According to a new survey:

• Over a third (36%) of employees say the 2020 U.S. presidential election has them avoiding conversations with their colleagues because of their political views.
• 26% of respondents say that the election has had a moderate or big impact on their ability to do their jobs.
• 33% of employees report that the 2020 U.S. presidential election has led them to spend more time seeking political news at work.
• 31% who say they talk politics at work report that these conversations are frustrating or stressful.
• At organizations that have political expression policies, over 75% of employees agree with this guidance.

There are 30 qualified candidates for a job you’re trying to fill. They range in age from 28 to 62. While it may be tempting to focus on the younger applicants, there are several reasons you should consider the older candidates as well:

• They have years of problem-solving experience. They’ve encountered all kinds of challenges and situations; and they likely know how to overcome barriers, negotiate and bargain, and get results. They’re not likely to be rattled when things don’t go as planned, and they can model this behavior for younger workers.
• They have perspective. They realize that the steps and processes leading to the conclusion or completion of a project, program, or goal are as important as getting to the finish line.
• They have knowledge. Decades of work and life experience bring with them a deep pool of knowledge, experience, and confidence. They’ve personally witnessed the evolution of changes and innovations, and these historical insights … [Read more...] about (2/20) Why Recruiting Older Workers Adds Value to the Bottom-Line

With artificial intelligence and other tech changes happening at a rapid pace, upskilling and reskilling are essential to help employees keep up with trends and innovations. However, a new survey suggests that employers are failing in this regard. Data from the 2020 Talent Trends Report shows that only 22% of human capital leaders are providing reskilling to address talent scarcity. This is despite the fact that 91% of respondents agree that reskilling is their company’s responsibility. Among other findings from the survey:

• 66% of respondents plan to provide training and reskilling in the area of artificial intelligence.
• 60% plan to prioritize workers’ soft skills.
• Nearly one-third of those who say they plan to offer reskilling aren’t sure how to do it.

In 2019, 83% of U.S. workers were reported to suffer from work-related stress. At the same time, they see the value of health and wellness perks, and 73% of workers say they are directly influenced by these when choosing a job. There is much at HR and other leaders can do to address employee stress:

• Build realistic, customized programs. Pay attention to what is sustainable, positive, and low pressure. Remember that you won’t be able to eliminate all stress, but you can minimize it and give workers the tools and skills they need to live a low-stress work life.
• Promote downtime. Breaks can be very effective for both managers and their teams. Encourage and enable your teams to build routines with healthful, productive downtime. Coffee breaks, a few minutes of walking or stretching, and 15 minutes in a quiet room can be tremendously refreshing and revitalizing.
• Provide tools and training. Make sure you have mental health benefits designed to combat … [Read more...] about (2/18) Workplace Stress: The Silent Productivity Killer

Job hopping is on the rise, according to a new report. In fact, workers are changing jobs at a rate of 4.1%, twice that of 10 years ago. The good news is that the job switching rate is lowest in the health services, education, and manufacturing industries. Among other findings from the survey:

• Workers usually leave their industries when they change jobs, but the rate they jump to other industries has remained fairly consistent in the past decade.
• Employers are increasingly hiring job candidates who already have employment, as well as those who lack credentials previously required.
• More employers are using recruitment strategies that include offering more generous pay and benefits.
• Job hopping is most common in administrative and support services jobs.

Advanced technology is creeping into the workplace; and while employees acknowledge its value, they’re not necessarily greeting it with open arms. You need to know how employees view these innovations before you can educate and train them to use them effectively – for the company’s success and their own. According to a new study:

• 32% of American employees say their company has introduced advanced technology—including robotics, artificial intelligence, and data analytics—in the past year.
• 76% feel that this new technology has made their jobs easier.
• 29% say they are concerned about being replaced by these technologies in the next five years, while 47% say they’re not at all worried about that possibility.
• 55% disagree that robots are better workers than humans; and 57% agree that robots and advance automation are bad for American workers.
• 69% of workers in recently automated workplaces say that advanced technology has had a … [Read more...] about (2/14) New Study: 76% of Workers at Newly Automated Companies Say Technology Has Made Their Jobs Easier

Love in the workplace isn’t just the stuff of TV sitcoms. According to a new survey, half of workers admit to having had romantic feelings about a colleague. Among other findings:

• Nearly one-fourth say they’ve asked out a coworker.
• Of those individuals who say they’ve dated a fellow employee, 76% say the object of their affection was a peer, 27% say they’ve dated a superior, and 21% attest to romancing a subordinate.
• 27% say they are in or have been in a workplace romance.
• 19% claim to have a “work spouse,” a coworker with who they have an emotionally close relationship.

How can you win praise and loyalty from your employees? Consider these qualities that Fortune’s 100 best companies to work for have in common:

• They take values seriously. Employees are rewarded for living and modeling company values. They even may have a hand in developing or refining them.
• Communication rules and is multi-faceted and multidirectional. It’s formal and informal. Leaders talk candidly with employees about what’s happening.
• Compensation is fair and inclusive. They offer competitive salaries and make pay policies transparent.
• They create a culture of recognition. Managers are expected to thank their employees for their hard work on a regular basis.
• They make training and development a regular part of work so that employees can see a clear path for advancement.
• They really enable a work-life balance. Flexible work schedules are par for the course. They best companies also ensure reasonable workloads, … [Read more...] about (2/12) Why the Best Companies Keep Winning the Hearts of Top Employees

Basic interview questions may give you some information about job candidates, but you really need some thought-provoking, unique questions to really learn how someone thinks, works, and reacts to change and stress. Try these open-ended questions to get to the “whys” and “hows” of potential employees:

• How did you get into this role?
• What makes you excited about your job again after a tough day?
• Who has had the greatest influence on the way you do your job now?
• If you had to design your perfect next role, what would that look like?
• What makes you the best choice for this opportunity versus the other people with whom I am speaking?
• Where do you go or what do you do when – in the middle of the workday – you need to decompress from stress?
• How do you handle a situation where a teammate isn’t holding up his or her end of a group project?
• Where do you access information when the Internet is … [Read more...] about (2/11) Cheat Sheet: Questions that Uncover Who a Candidate Really Is