Massive technological advances – including the rise of AI – and the increase in hybrid and remote working have complicated the role of HR in South African businesses.
Economic uncertainty has exacerbated this challenge for HR departments, who are expected to deliver more than ever before on a reduced budget.
It is therefore important for HR professionals to understand the industry landscape and develop effective strategies to perform their roles effectively.
We have outlined the key HR challenges for 2024 and how you can adapt to them, below.
Changes to the workspace
Economic challenges have impacted companies worldwide, leading to massive layoffs within HR departments.
This is compounded by the adoption of the modern workplace, which was accelerated by the global pandemic and has led to workers becoming more demanding of their employers.
HR departments must adopt new strategies and mindsets to ensure employees remain content in this new environment.
They must focus on enabling their employees with the right software and hardware to enhance productivity while ensuring their work-life balance is catered to.
Remote and hybrid working has also weakened hierarchical working arrangements, resulting in line managers having significantly less visibility into their teams’ productivity.
To solve this, HR departments must embrace new technologies that allow line managers to track employee productivity.
Importantly, this tracking software must not inhibit the employee experience – instead supplementing it and rewarding employees for being productive.
Sage’s time-tracking software is a great option for South African businesses, as it helps teams meet their deadlines and boosts staff productivity while also tracking attendance, performance, and engagement.
Maintaining an effective workplace
In the evolving workplace, companies must upskill and reskill their workforce to remain competitive.
HR departments have a huge role to play, particularly in the realm of talent acquisition, where the global skills shortage is a major problem.
While hiring has historically relied heavily on CVs and qualifications, HR departments must drive an organisational shift to internal skills development with increased emphasis on an individual’s potential to be upskilled.
This is particularly true of newer and more complex jobs, where there may not be a clear qualification to look for that perfectly serves the role’s requirements.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are equally important when acquiring talent, and HR professionals must once again lead this initiative.
This is particularly important in South Africa, where hiring a diverse workforce is not only socially responsible but also beneficial financially, thanks to initiatives like B-BBEE.
All of this must be done while balancing employees’ emotional well-being and helping them manage their stress levels by ensuring they are not overloaded with work.
Planning for the future
HR departments will continue to face these and other challenges for years to come, but should see the evolving landscape as an opportunity to streamline the employee experience.
Partnering with a leading HR solution provider like Sage is the best way to futureproof your organisation against emerging challenges.