2018… Bring it on!

Happy new year to you all!

As the Prosecco starts to wear off and the parties end; the New Year is the perfect time to realign our focus onto what is important.

Reflecting on 2017, we saw plenty of employment changes in the workplace. A responsive Human Resources department should be able to fulfil the needs of their organisations. In the past year alone, we have seen the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, the removal of Employment Tribunal fees, experienced the impact of impending Brexit, and we are now preparing our clients for the challenges that come with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018.

Bearing all of this in mind, we are entering 2018 with trepidation, and due to these uncertain times, we have learned that organisations need to prioritise engagement and trust within their businesses in order to successfully progress.

A great focal point for HR this year is upon mental health and workplace wellbeing. It has been headline news for years it seems, yet there is still so much to be done; combating the stigma, educating line managers, supporting wellbeing cultures and offering enhanced support for those suffering with mental health conditions. With substantial links to enhanced performance and engagement, there is so much that HR understands and can challenge within their organisations that to have a positive wellbeing culture, it is a win win situation for employers and employees alike.

Despite the eggshell approach to Brexit, we continue to see a candidate lead market; employers should avoid complacency and benchmark their packages to ensure they are competitive. Businesses not only need to continue attracting the best talent, they need to retain their star performers. Recruitment and Reward will need to work collaboratively to ensure that they are getting the balance right throughout 2018 so I anticipate a lot of movement in this space.

With all of this anticipation, the only certainty that HR has, is that it will continue to change.

HR professionals have a lot of work to do to enhance it’s position within the workplace; to step up as a serious strategic player and to step away from the fluffy image that it is associated with. Building and maintaining relationships is vital to getting HR that much needed seat at the table, whilst actively doing what we should be doing and supporting the business with an aligned people strategy. This is basic stuff but it seems that the image that HR has isn’t always reflective of our capabilities so let’s forget job titles and set our focus to getting the job done and making a positive impact.

Let’s make 2018 a year that HR can be proud of!