Leaders in the workplace are constantly wondering what their people are doing, feeling and thinking. Are their workers being efficient, are they happy and will they stay?
Here are some key topics that are bubbling up in organizations across North America.
HYBRID ATTENDANCE
Remote working seems to be less of a trend and more of a mainstay. It has been proven to be a successful solution to both external and internal impacts on the workplace.
Some are saying, the hope of any return to business as usual is long gone and remote work is here to stay, at least in some form. Remote work may not be an option for all businesses, but those that have transitioned are saying that their people are adapting quickly, and everyone is reaping the benefits.
The most preferred way of working in 2022 is distributed between home and office, according to a recent survey by ADP Canada. Employers are now trying to sustain talent by meeting the needs of this growing expectation. A hybrid way of working is not always an easy undertaking though. It can be a complex challenge that requires coordination of technology, policies and planning.
When dealing with hybrid work models, the greatest challenge for HR professionals is to ensure employee productivity and maintain mental health.
Workplace investigations are ramping up in this virtual norm. Leaders are nervous about providing independence to workers and they want to be certain that their workforce is still working while away from the office. They also want to corroborate attendance reports. Although we’re seeing a downslide in WSIB cases, we’re seeing an increase in sick reporting that needs to be justified and affirmed. Third-party investigations provide a safe arms-length approach to situational inquiries.
HR AUTOMATION
Online staff management software is still changing. They make day-to-day HR management easier. Automating administrative tasks through new technology and practices increases efficiency and frees up employee time to take on tasks of greater value.
Video job interviews are becoming more common and is expected to continue in 2022. For businesses hiring remote staff, the candidate pool is excitedly larger. Virtual interviews may be the only way HR can successfully assess distant candidates.
To save time and resources, organizations are leaning on alternate ways to get through the hiring process. When it comes to the background screening part of the checklist, more companies are opting to get help from mediation partners for employer references by phone or email. By using professional services that exercise bahaviour interview techniques, candidate personality traits and job knowledge can be obtained quickly and the results will be unbiased.
Having an automated process in recruiting allows the HR team to focus on all the other tasks that cannot be handed off. The fastest growing HR automation to date is a social media check. This is not just done for new hires anymore but executed on a continual basis on entire workforces. If an org selects the right partner support, this electronic screening uses algorithms to continually gauge an employee’s risk to the company through their online public social behaviour.
Automated reporting provides a constant update about employees exhibiting discriminatory, criminal and derogatory actions that may affect an organization and cause the employer to further investigate.
STAFF SHORTAGES
Over half of the North American businesses surveyed in multiple reports expressed that staff shortages and sickness was their greatest operational challenge in the past year. Looking into 2022 we see the problem continuing and possibly getting worse.
In particular, there is a critical shortage of security guards in Ontario and across North America. This is due to the high demand for their services and the delayed processing of guard testing and licensing.
A reduced workforce poses significant operational challenges for any business and leaves your company vulnerable to security threats. There are however many things to look at in the way of technology and risk assessment that could relieve this burden.
As the current demand for security guards is far beyond the supply, organizations are starting to think outside of the box when finding solutions to their security needs. The main solution is Physical Security Assessments.
Evaluating your physical security systems such as your building, equipment, software and information you can help protect your inventory of assets. Once you understand what needs to be secured, you can decide on the management, processes and tools to prevent potential security threats like theft, vandalism, natural or accidental disasters. It is important to obtain professional guidance in this area of assessment so that you get the most relevant recommendations to the secure your company from identified threats and risks.
Have recent workplace trends influenced your priority list? While you’re planning how you will make the most impact on your organization and people this year, consider the benefits of workplace investigations and physical security assessments. Virtually or in-person, our CIS trusted advisors ensure that you Know More about the people and places that matter most to you. Contact us today to discuss your strategic priorities. https://www.corporateinvestigations.com/contact/
