By Deepa Damodaran
The 25th edition of the World HRD Congress concluded last week in Mumbai. Representatives from over 150 companies, from around the world, participated in the three-day event, where they discussed several topics ranging from nurturing tomorrow’s leaders, to effectively developing talent, to workplace bias, to gender disparity, and about the current and future HR challenges.
A few takeaways:
Workplace is Changing
In an era where the average career span of employees, especially millennials, is 18 months and the average age of a company is 12 years, how much of an understanding does HR have about the changing scenarios?
Britain’s exit from European Union (Brexit) and Donald Trump’s entry as the US President are set to affect people and organizations in many ways we cannot anticipate today. Is HR ready to manage people in such changing times?
Something interesting is happening around us.
- The world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles - Uber
- The world’s most popular media owner, creates no content – Facebook
- The world’s most valuable retailer, has no inventory – Alibaba
- The world’s largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate – Airbnb
- The world’s largest telecom operator owns no telco infrastructure – Skype and WeChat
- The world’s largest software vendors do not write any app - Apple and Google
- The world's largest bank has no money - SocietyONE
- The world’s largest movie owner owns no cinema - Netflix
The world is changing at an unbelievable pace. The workplace will be no different. “People will no longer be working for a company, instead will be sharing expertise for several companies”. Labor laws are set to change in 10 years. Is HR adapting to the changing world?
Change Comes from Outside
Technology is changing too.
Apple, a mere desktop company and which had no say in automobile and watch industries, is going to bring disruptions in these worlds with its Apple Cars and Apple Watches!
“Change always happens from outside, not within”. HR needs to keep a constant watch to know when it happens. Is HR capable of doing it?
Gaming and Applications
The world is changing at an unbelievable pace. Gaming and applications are ruling the world. Check these stats:
It took 6 months for Instagram to touch 50 million user base, while Angry Birds reached in just 35 days, whereas, Radio took 30 years, TV took 13 years, Internet took 4 years, and Facebook took 3.5 years.
HR is aware of how apps are influencing the current workplace and how important it is to the future. Will HR be able to convince the leadership to make the investment?
Gender Bias, Diversity and inclusion
Gender inequality is a still a pressing issue. Let’s check some stats:
- A woman has to work one-and-a-half- months more to earn equal to a man in 2017
- Women are overlooked for promotions – for every 130 men who is promoted only 100 women are promoted. (Source: The 2016 Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org.)
"It is time to check what led to this inequality. Organizations need to first acknowledge that gender bias do exist and address it effectively. Only then will they be able to start their journey to create right talent."
Women leaders in technology space are very few. Women tend to choose lower paying jobs, unlike men who choose tech jobs which pay more. There is a lack of role models for women to look up, mentors and supporting in technology field. We need to encourage women to take up STEM careers.
Laws and an inclusive environment, where they do not face setbacks owing to the time taken off from work to bear and raise children, are also key to address this issue.
A change is human mindset needs to be brought in, where gender based prejudices give way to talent based assessment. “Times are changing. It is time to respect talent irrespective of age and gender”.
Is HR in a position to monitor, address and ultimately resolve this issue?
“Leadership has to look as diverse as real life diversity is. Unless there is a 50 percent presence of women in leadership, it is difficult”. Is HR able to create such an inclusive culture?
Organizational Culture
For the future leader ethics will be core and success will depend upon people to people (P2P) connections more than ever.HR will play a key role in creating the right culture, right learning environment, a culture that is adapting, which is built on p2p connections, which is inclusive and which accepts new ideas.
(Based on inputs from World HRD Congress 2017 sessions)
ENDAuthor Bio
Deepa Damodaran is Publication Manager and Editor, Excellence Essentials, at HR.com. She joined HR.com in 2014 and has over 10 years of experience.
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