UK software provider Cascade HR recently surveyed 423 HR directors with reference to what they regard as being their biggest challenges in 2019.
For the second year running - of the respondents surveyed - 40% identified engagement of staff as the major issue, with recruitment and retention of existing staff coming a close second and third at 36% and 37%.
At 29%, absence management was quoted as being another of the main challenges - whilst 22% cited wellbeing as the main focal point.
HR directors, managers and executives were also asked to indicate which their toughest problems were during the previous year and the results showed 45% cited recruitment; 36% retention and thirdly, 35% GDPR compliance.
Fortunately, despite finding retention difficult, 35% of HR teams feel that they had success in that area - as, indeed 32% also did in wellbeing; 32% in L&D and 30% in diversity.
Where GDPR is concerned, 66% of respondents stated that it had been tricky - but manageable.
Oliver Shaw - CEO of Cascade - showed a particular interest in the results of the HR replies to questions about automation - with 46% of respondents believing that automation is extremely important for the HR department to become more efficient; 29% thinking it had a partial role to play and only 2% stating that it is not important in their business.
He commented:
“HR has embraced automation and machine learning on varying levels this year. But there is a clear desire to know more about the power of tech.”
Head of Sales - Marc Greggain - commented:
“It is important that HR professionals can cut through the A1 hype and understand how to benefit from things like automation, predictive analytics and workforce planning, without losing the ‘human’ from Human Resources. Their existing HR software will invariably hold the answer.”
Despite not being the most common subject, Brexit figured in the survey with 52% of HR professionals stating that they are slightly worried about the uncertainty and the impact of leaving the EU. However, only 19% said they are extremely worried.
Oliver Shaw stated:
“It’s been an interesting year for UK organisations, with Brexit, compliance and employment tribunals dominating the headlines. But I believe some of the most pivotal developments have surrounded the future of work debate.”
He added:
“This year, the HR landscape has seen employees push back on the traditional nine-to-five more than ever before. Flexible working has stepped up a notch, and organisations that bury their head in the sand when it comes to what staff wants from employment will be those that struggle the most with recruitment and retention in 2019.”
