Editor’s Note

As the current pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the globe, organizations are struggling to not only survive the crisis but also thrive in the post-crisis world. As we wade through the changing dynamics of work, there is an increased curiosity regarding the kind of skills that will be relevant in the future. And undoubtedly, one dominant fear has been that the augmented adoption of technology will lead to the loss of jobs in the future.

While humans struggle to advance both mentally and physically in this 'new normal,' AI is emerging from this crisis stronger, with further-reaching applications than ever before. Can man and machine coexist? What role can HR play in equipping employees to thrive in this blended workforce world? This edition of HR Strategy & Planning Excellence includes articles that focus on the future of the blended workforce and HR’s role in it.

The cover article, Humans + Bots – HR’s Role In The New Blended Workforce by Jeff Frey (Vice President, Innovation, Talent Path) focuses on HR’s role in equipping employees to thrive in this new world of work. According to Jeff, if AI can help fight the virus in so many ways: outbreak tracking systems, survival rate calculators based on blood samples, deep learning models, and more; it can surely augment your job functions as well. The future of work depends on HR professionals willing to help entrepreneurs and large corporations alike to navigate the highs and lows.

While the pandemic may have accelerated changes, it’s important to recognize the path leading to a blended workforce was, is, and will continue to be an inevitable destination. Working along with robots will soon become the new normal and while many may be apprehensive of the impending changes, there are benefits for both HR and employees alike, says Guy DiMemmo (CEO & Founder, VCS) in his article, Building A Blended Workforce Where HR And Employees Both Win.

Despite the prevalence and perceived threat of technologies which can upend how we earn a living, industry leaders recognize more than ever the importance of their people. There is a new role for HR in this reality, to evolve its own position and help others find theirs. Jarrod McGrath’s (Founder and CEO, Smart WFM) article, People Are At The Epicenter Of Everything We Do – AI Doesn’t Change That, talks about how HR bears a huge responsibility to protect itself and other disciplines and help them adjust to the future digital workforce.

As Jeff Frey rightly puts it, “while there are mixed emotions and thoughts about the human + bot workforce, humans are humans and bots are bots. So, probably we should allow the bots to do their jobs and HR can free up time to do uniquely human tasks.”

We hope you enjoy reading all the articles in this themed edition focused on Humans+Bots -New Blended Workforce and look forward to receiving your valuable feedback and comments.

Cheers!