Letters of the month

Many coMpanies see hybrid as a perManent fixture: abe sMith, ZooM Video coMMunications

“With the vaccinations heralding an end to the pandemic, business leaders can no longer sit on the fence when it comes to hybrid work, which is fast becoming part of the very fabric of how businesses are run.” Very well said. It has been a year now and still, there is a lot of tiptoeing around a certain future of work. In the last twelve months, organizations have been able to learn about the pros and cons of remote working and the ways to work around it. Sure we haven’t reached a stage where we could be certain of what the future would be, but the visible need for many to rush the return to the workplace is not too promising. There is a need for leaders indeed to take a stand and prioritize employee safety, especially after a year of employees stepping up, and prioritizing work over their personal health and commitments.

- BHUmIKa PaNWaR

HR must leverage technology to champion change

Nice to read how this company is implementing HR digitization in a phased manner. It helps to simplify and break down the big rocks into stepping stones. A major chunk of time for HR professionals is taken up in maintaining people metrics at the time of increment, bonus, and promotion cycles. As organizations switch from annual and bi-annual to the frequent promotion and increment cycles, in the absence of requisite technology, it is only likely to weigh heavier on those who maintain the data manually, taking up all their time in something as basic as data entry over being a business partner and coming up with recommendations on retention strategies. Change is not just inevitable, it is imperative.

- aKHIl aNTONY april 2021 issue

Organizations need to refine a lot of practices to stay relevant

Leaders indeed play a key role in cementing organizational purpose, especially as many organizations rethink their values and practices. There is greater awareness and interest among employees towards what their organization stands for, and how leaders lead the firm through adversities. With global organizations announcing their hiring plans for the upcoming year, companies must reassess their ways of working and overall organizational practices. As employees seek new opportunities, organizational culture and practices will play a key role in not just attracting new talent but also retaining existing talent.

- PRIYa SINGH

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2020: A year in which HR can excel

I agree with the author. It is indeed pointless to predict what’s going to happen in the future. We will fare well if we focus on equipping ourselves to thrive in the face of unpredictability, instead of preparing for "what the future looks like" Adaptability and quick-thinking will remain guiding pillars as we forge ahead. 2021 saw the world navigate operational sustainability, it’s time we switch to building capabilities that can navigate uncertainties, in a manner that keeps the health of both people and businesses intact, without overburdening and making one the cost of another.

- SIDDHaRT malHOTRa

The new waves of doing business are here to stay

‘Constructive disruption’. This model has always inspired me. I think of it as intentional disruption to constantly challenge the status quo. While 2020 paved the way for forced disruption in the way we work, disruption honestly was already underway. It was just a matter of time and choice to upgrade or stay put. Talks around the 4th industrial revolution had already built the case for digital disruption across organizational functions, however, the adoption for many was only made possible under the forced circumstances of the pandemic. The willingness of organizations to now shift gears and meet the need of the hour is what will equip them to fast track recovery and growth.

Sustenance is more important than initiation

Truly important. Often we hear about great program launches however, a gradual dimming impact. For DEI efforts to be successful, sustenance needs to be the guiding factor as experts identify new ways to accelerate the journey. 2020 put the spotlight on inclusion like never before. The corporate has never seen a shift at such scale when it comes to advocacy, infrastructure, and cultural transformation. There is a greater sense of accountability on building inclusive workplaces, and to ensure the efforts don’t lose their weight over a period of time, there is a need to assess the sustenance of DEI strategies.

- amIT malIK

Freedom of choice in employee benefits

An interesting shift from sickness care to wellness care. Ensuring that employees have access to relevant benefits that match employee needs has taken precedence over a pre-decided wellness package that caters to an organization, whether an employee requires those benefits or not. Wellness has seen a focus from organizations like never before. It is reassuring to see employers looking for options that provide holistic wellness avenues to all. However, no matter the lip service on wellness, unclear work-life boundaries are reversing any positive impact a wellness program might have.

Mark Stelzner @stelzner I enjoyed this interview with @PeopleMatters2 in anticipation of their #techhrsea event in early May. One key callout: We must acknowledge that the relentless pace of change will require HR to protect some % of HR's capacity as a "rapid response" team.

Pilar Orti @PilarOrti Episode 3 of BeNextRadio is out, featuring Dave Snowden talking about managing complexity from #HR point of view. Great summary here by @PeopleMatters2

MURAL @MURAL Our very own Chief Evangelist @JimKalbach will be discussing "Building a Culture of Collaboration" at #TechHRSG from @PeopleMatters2 — stay tuned for more details singapore.techhrconference.com

david Green @david_green_uk ‘Remote work’ is a profound trend that lays the foundations for a new working environment: AXA Group’s Global CHRO ow.ly/ h67450EfLJQ via @PeopleMatters2 #FutureOfWork #Culture #HR #Leadership

U of T Mississauga @UTM Enable every employee to be a leader: @UTMManagement assistant professor Jacob Hirsh talks to @PeopleMatters2 about the challenges of managing through a pandemic.

Randstad_SR @Randstad_SR Get tips for leading #PerformanceManagement and annual appraisals more effectively via @PeopleMatters2

Adecco India @adeccoin #InTheNews | @RameshAlluriRe1 featured in @PeopleMatters2 where he shares insights on driving sustainable innovation/ disruption while contending with internal pressures between performance, durability & commitment to cause no unnecessary harm.

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