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Alanna Billington, Human Resources Director, AlstomIn an interview, Yvette Michael, workforce planning manager at Alstom discusses her observations on the evolving HR industry.
What are some of the major challenges and trends that have been impacting the HR Industry lately?
• Digital Transformation: Like many other industries, HR is experiencing significant digital transformation. Automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics are being utilised to streamline HR processes, enhance recruitment and selection, improve the employee experience, and enable data-driven decision-making. HR professionals need to adapt to these technological advancements and acquire new digital skills.
• Remote Work and Flexibility: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work and flexible work arrangements. HR professionals have been faced with the challenge of managing remote teams, ensuring productivity, and maintaining employee engagement in a virtual work environment. As a management team we have taken a number of actions to realign our policies with employee expectations such as expanded flexible working options to include compressed work weeks and the option to take public holidays flexibly, we have also implemented different technologies to support remote work and collaboration.
• Talent Shortages and Skills Gap: Australia has been experiencing talent shortages in various industries, particularly in areas such as technology and engineering. Like many organisations, we are grappling with the challenge of attracting and retaining skilled talent. To bridge the skills gap, we are investing in training and development programs, partnering with educational institutions, and exploring global talent. Effective talent acquisition strategies, in particular employer branding and targeted recruitment campaigns have become critical for us.
• Employee Well-being and Mental Health: Workplace well-being and mental health have become significant priorities for organisations. Both our HR and EHS teams have a key focus on creating supportive work environments, implementing mental health initiatives, and providing resources for employees to cope with stress and maintain work-life balance. There is an increased emphasis on employee assistance programs, flexible work hours, and promoting a positive work culture, as a management team we recognise that this is a key focus area for us and have implemented a new health & well-being program and platform as well as providing additional leave days targeted towards health &well-being.
What keeps you up at night when it comes to some of the major predicaments in the HR Industry?
In the HR industry in Australia, several challenges and predicaments are prevalent. For our organization, these include:
• Workforce Diversity and Inclusion: Achieving diversity and inclusion in the workplace is an ongoing challenge and it is no different in the rail industry. HR professionals strive to create inclusive cultures, ensure equal opportunities, and eliminate bias. However, achieving true diversity and inclusion requires addressing systemic barriers and fostering a supportive environment, we focus our D&I strategy around five key pillars that try to address this.
• Evolving Workforce Expectations: The expectations of our workforce are changing rapidly. Employees seek greater work-life balance, expanded flexible work arrangements, more career development opportunities, and a supportive work culture. We are continually revising and adapting our policies, practices, and strategies to meet these evolving expectations to ensure we attract and retain talent and employees are engaged.
"These technological trends amongst others hold great promise for enhancing efficiency, personalisation, and strategic decision-making within the HR industry"
• HR Technology Integration: Integrating different HR technologies, such as HRIS, ATS, LMS, and analytics tools, can be challenging. Ensuring smooth integration, a clear change management plan, data accuracy, and usability across various systems is a constant challenge, as it impacts data management, reporting, and decision-making processes.
• Aging Workforce and Succession Planning: Australia, like many other countries, is experiencing an aging workforce. HR professionals need to address succession planning and knowledge transfer to ensure the continuity of operations when experienced employees retire. Identifying and developing future leaders and implementing effective knowledge-sharing programs are essential for our business and something we are seeing success with.
What are some of the technological trends, which excite you for the future of the HR Industry?
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning have the potential to revolutionise HR processes. Intelligent chatbots can assist with employee queries and provide personalised support. AI-powered algorithms can streamline recruitment by analysing resumes, assessing candidate fit, and identifying top talent. Machine learning algorithms can also help predict employee turnover and identify patterns for improving employee engagement.
• Data Analytics and People Analytics: The availability of vast amounts of data within organisations presents an opportunity for HR professionals to leverage analytics for data-driven decision-making. People analytics can help identify trends, patterns, and correlations within HR data, enabling better insights into workforce planning, performance management, and employee engagement. Predictive analytics can assist in identifying potential issues and optimising HR strategies.
• Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR): VR and AR technologies have the potential to transform HR training and development programs. They can create immersive learning experiences, simulate real-world scenarios, and provide interactive training sessions. VR/AR can be particularly useful for enhancing employee onboarding, soft skills training, and improving safety training for high-risk industries which is something we are currently in the process of implementing to further enhance our safety critical training and onboarding experience.
These technological trends amongst others hold great promise for enhancing efficiency, personalisation, and strategic decision-making within the HR industry. By leveraging these advancements, HR professionals can continue to transform their roles from transactional to strategic partners in driving organisational success and improving the overall employee experience.
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