A study from HR group, CIPD, shows that half of those surveyed (49%) have had to upskill due to their workplace's response to the pandemic.
The People Profession 2021 survey from CIPD in association with Workday explores the perspectives of over 1500 people professionals in Ireland and the UK and reveals valuable insights into how HR has responded to the pandemic.
The research notes the strong influence of technology on change in the workplace. 60% of practitioners say digital and technological factors are driving change in their organisation, but there seems to be a link between organisation size and technology. 47% per cent of respondents in large organisations note technology as a driver of change, compared to 26% in smaller organisations.
Director of CIPD Ireland Mary Connaughton is also highlighting one particular difference between responses from the UK and Ireland: "Among our UK colleagues, 41% of respondents said that supporting line managers is a priority area for improvement across their HR capability, but the figure stands at just 29% here. This is a source of concern as a lack of capability among line managers could form a barrier to the maximum contribution of HR practices to the organisation. We would encourage members and their employers to devote more energy towards supporting line managers with this part of their role".
Some of the other findings from the annual benchmarking report's Irish responses include:
· 53% of people either agreed or strongly agreed that the role of the HR / people function is changing significantly in their organisation
· 50% of people here say supporting employees’ mental health and wellbeing has become more difficult due to employees working from home
· 35% of respondents say demands for flexible working are the second biggest driver of internal change
· 48% say the standing of people professionals has increased, while
· 62% say the HR team plays a vital role in influencing organisational strategy and direction
Mary says another positive outcome of the survey is the fact that 68% of professionals in Ireland derive happiness from their work, and 67% say they derive energy from it - figures which show an increase on last year’s statistics.
"Considering the challenges which HR and people professionals have encountered over the past 19 months or so, and their determination to upskill to help organisations meet those demands, it's testament to the profession’s resilience and capability that they report such positivity. This is also reflected in the figures showing a rise in the standing of HR teams in Irish workplaces, and the regard in which they’re held".
"As we face the final months of 2021, I believe we can continue to build on the standing of HR teams in workplaces across Ireland. The greatest challenge facing enterprise between now and the first half of 2022 is safely navigating a return to the workplace, in whatever form is appropriate. On this front we encourage HR teams to maintain a focus on health & safety, communication and flexibility with staff. The growing influence of technology outlined in the survey must also be met with appropriate resource allocation across upskilling and support to ensure its potential benefits in the areas of workload and data analytics are maximised," Ms Connaughton.
Michael Douroux, global vice president, Northern Europe and South Africa at Workday said: "Those in the people profession have really risen to the moment in the last year, helping businesses and employees alike to overcome an incredibly challenging period. Amidst huge uncertainty and a fast-changing environment, leaders have helped people stay informed, engaged and supported. As we all strive to recover and make the world of work better, applying what we’ve learned over the last year, it’s clear that a data-driven agile culture is vital - leading to better-informed decisions and fewer surprises along the way."
