Technology

This is the next high-tech game-changer, and it will have a huge impact on your organization and how your teams work. Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past year, you’ve heard about the advent of 5G. However, you’re not alone if you don’t know exactly what it is or how it will impact your business. Help is on the way.  Read on for details about 5G, how it works, and what it will mean to your organization. … [Read more...] about Don’t Be Blindsided: Get Ready Now for 5G

Technology promotes productivity, but it also can boost burnout if it adds time-consuming steps and reduces personal interactions. It wasn’t too long ago that workers were tethered to desktop computers, and laptops and mobile devices were unheard of. In fact, today’s digital workplace bears little resemblance to the same space 20 years ago. All of these changes have improved productivity and efficiency, but they also have caused stress. According to one study, 61% of employees think that the pace of change in technology is too fast; and more than half worry about losing their job due to automation or because they lack the skills to keep up. As software and other digital tools evolve, HR and other leaders need to keep employees trained, engaged, and motivated. By keeping their eyes on the prize, they can prevent the stress and burnout that lead to turnover. … [Read more...] about How to Tackle the Human Challenges of the Digital Workplace

You need to customize, personalize, rethink, reorganize, analyze, plan ahead, and followup to make the most of computer-based training. You just downloaded some great educational software for staff training. You’re excited at first; then over weeks and months, you discover that it hasn’t had any impact or influence; and some departments aren’t even using it. What went wrong? The truth is that you can’t just distribute training materials—however good they are—to your employees and expect them to automatically embrace them. Learning is dynamic and very personal. For educational software to resonate with your teams, HR and other team leaders need to take some steps to customize high-tech learning. … [Read more...] about Make Training/Educational Software Hard for Workers to Resist

Hiring managers are impressed when job seekers use technology creatively. However, there are some deal breakers that turn off employers. According to a new survey, nearly half of hiring managers say they are impressed by job candidates who connect with them via social media. They also like applicants who promote themselves through online portfolios or personal websites. However, managers are more likely to avoid candidates who use Bitmojis (expressive cartoon avatars), caricatures, and colorful fonts or backgrounds on applications. They also are turned off by individuals who "overshare" on websites or social medial posts. … [Read more...] about Sure, You Want Applicants to Be Creative, But Are Cartoons a Bridge Too Far?

Virtual mental healthcare services can improve employee health and productivity while reducing costs and absenteeisms. We share much with our neighbors from the north, including mental health issues in the workplace. According to statistics, 500,000 Canadians are unable to go to work each week due to poor mental health. This is estimated to cost $50 billion annually and accounts for up to 40% of short-term disability claims. Now many employers in Canada are finding great success with a virtual care service to address employees’ mental health issues 24/7. There is much to learn from their experience. … [Read more...] about Plug into Mental Health Services that Charge Up Engagement, Outcomes

Top HR leaders talk about technology that will give you an edge over the competition in the new year. Increasingly, HR departments are leveraging technology to be more savvy and efficient in service delivery, record-keeping, communication, and benefits management. Read on to see what leading experts say are hot HR tech trends for 2020. … [Read more...] about HR in 2020: Leveraging Technology Will Land Big Results

Voice-activated devices aren’t just for the home anymore. They are playing a growing role in the workplace, saving time and improving employee engagement. While we’ve all been using Siri, Alexa, and other voice-activated applications for years, they are now coming to the workplace. Vendors such as Ceridian and IBM have clients that use voice response as an alternative to typing on computers or swiping on mobile devices for popular transactions related to key workforce metrics. … [Read more...] about Siri, Welcome to the Workforce

The technology landscape in 2020 will be fraught with hills and mountains, but there also will be stretches of lush growth and flowering fields. In a new survey of 5,000 technology professionals, 59% of respondents say they are optimistic about how tech advancements will affect their career. However, only 40% are confident that the evolving tech landscape will impact society as a whole. While respondents express confidence about the value of technology, most believe that businesses and industry aren’t ready for what’s to come. In fact, 81% say organizations aren’t investing enough in the people skills needed to successfully navigate the changing landscape of the next decade; and 70% say there isn’t enough investment in the necessary technology itself. … [Read more...] about Survey: Professionals Laud the Power of Tech in New Decade but Say Most Organizations Aren’t Ready

The stakes are higher than ever; and experts suggest that last year’s measures aren’t enough to protect data in the new year. Buckle your cyber seatbelts. According to a new report, data breaches are at an all-time high and show no sign of letting up in 2020. “Companies should prioritize data breach prevention as well as responses, and now take it to the next level. It’s not acceptable anymore to simply focus on security and hope for the best,” states the report from Experian. The authors suggest that there are additional steps organizations can take to prepare, including investing in employee training to strengthen defenses, keeping informed about the latest threats, and planning for a quick response if a breach happens. … [Read more...] about Report: Organizations Face Alarming New Cybersecurity Challenges in 2020

If you have coworkers who are constantly checking their phones, they may have an unhealthy high-tech obsession. Weaning off social media and personal devices can make them healthier, happier. Be honest. At least some of your employees (and maybe even you) have a serious problem—an addiction to personal devices and, specifically, social media. Starting 2020 with a group or individual resolution to break the tether to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms can make everyone happier and healthier. … [Read more...] about Breaking the Facebook Fixation