The new Oxford Economics, Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), and SAP Human Resources research surveyed HR leaders from various industries and sizes in 10 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
As organisations cross over 2021 with much anticipation, agitation, and experiences gained from the extraordinary year that was, leaders can delve into the new research from SAP SuccessFactors in partnership with Oxford Economics and SHRM as they strategise for the future of HR. Entitled “The Future of Work Arrives Early: How HR Leaders are Leveraging the Lessons of Disruptions”, the study aims to help leaders understand the emerging realities facing employers and employees as well as help them prepare for the rapid changes in the workforce and workplace trends.
Last year, Qualtrics’ Work Different study that surveyed over 1000 Australians gave insights on the evolving employee needs, expectations, and experiences about the future of the workforce in a post-pandemic world. The study highlighted that 55 percent are optimistic about the future of the workforce in their respective industries after the pandemic eases due to the anticipated increased focus on innovation (62 percent) and new uses of technology (73 percent) in the workplace.
Now, the latest SAP Human Resources survey allows HR executives to take a closer look into the familiar workforce challenges that have taken an unprecedented complexity and urgency– such as health and safety, reskilling, and new ways of working.
SAP Human Resources Research Methodology
The research findings are based on parallel surveys fielded between Q2 and Q3 in 2020. Respondents to both surveys spanned industries, sizes, and locations within ten countries, including over 300 HR leaders in Australia.
Administered through an independent survey vendor, the US survey targeted HR professionals from SHRM’s membership while the international survey was fielded to HR managers outside SHRM’s membership.
SHRM is the largest Human Resources industry professional association in the world, representing more than 275,000 members in over 140 countries.
HR Challenges and Trends
In this article, we centre on the Australian HR executives’ pulse in the Oxford Economics, SHRM, and SAP Human Resources report, providing an overview of workplace changes, talent strategies, and technology adoption in the coming months and years ahead.
Workplace Changes
The vast majority (80%) of Australian respondents are optimistic that their organisations effectively found new ways of working in response to the pandemic and are equipped to address the changing work environment (78%).
Remote working is perceived by 47% of the surveyed Australian leaders as one of the top long-term impacts of the pandemic, with more than half (64%) expecting flexible work policies to be critical in attracting or retaining talent.
However, only 23% of the respondents said that the majority of their workers are equipped with the necessary technology and environment to effectively work remotely and almost half (49%) are expecting that maintaining productivity in the new dispersed work environment is going to be an ongoing challenge.
Talent Strategies
Though some countries like Mexico (50%), India (46%), and Spain (40%) view reskilling talent as a top priority this year, only 34% of Australian executives believe that investing in learning programs for reskilling and upskilling over the next year is essential.
80% of surveyed Australians said that most of their employees have adjusted well to new ways of working.
Technology Adoption
In terms of technology investment over the next 12 months, only 14% of HR executives surveyed plan to spend on return-to-work technologies, including test and tracing and remote worker management technologies. 20% said their organisations are investing in mobile platforms while 34% are looking into remote collaboration tools.
Angela Colantuono, VP and Head of SAP SuccessFactors ANZ, said:
“Modernising HR is a critical piece of any organisation’s digital transformation journey, and it’s become even more important as we continue to adjust in the wake of the pandemic.”
