HR Thinking: Time to take the ?? out of the workplace debate?
It's almost too obvious to say but it seems as if public discourse has never been more fractured.?
And when it comes to the much discussed WFH/In-Office conversation, things have gotten a little heated in recent weeks.?
In the UK alone, there's been plenty of fuel added to the debate around where is best to perform meaningful work. The Prime Minister, PwC and various business tycoons have weighed in on the argument.?
We've curated some of the trending opinions from across the globe.?
In this edition:
- Time to take the heat of out the workplace conversation
- Where is the UK's hidden labour shortage??
- Busting the biggest misconceptions surrounding flexible working
- Countdown to the TIARAs
?Let's jump in...??
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THE BIG TOPIC
The only thing here to stay appears to be the WFH v Office debate
?"We're more productive when we work from home!"
"The office is the only place to foster creative thinking."
?The WFH v Office debate, and all of its associated nuance, is not going away.?
In many ways, it would be incredibly na?ve to assume that post-Covid we'd all simply adapt to whatever surroundings we choose and everything would be fine.?
As we know, the reality is different and each individual has their own vested interests in deciding where they're most comfortable, happy and productive.?
The intention here isn't to pick sides. Instead, we've pieced together some global perspectives from employees, business leaders and thinkers:??
Here are some global perspectives:
- BBC:?The BBC's Worklife series has become essential reading. This particular piece focuses on the downsides of failing to have clear policies around home and office working. And it shines a light on some of the inequalities that have become apparent within organisations, typically between lower-paid workers and management. More great examples of the damage that can be done when two-tier systems are allowed to flourish.??
- Digital HR Leaders' Podcast: - Peter Cappelli, the George W. Taylor Professor of Management and the Professor of Education and Director for The Centre for HR at the Wharton Business School is the guest. In this podcast he discusses the impact of hybrid working on employees and employers. He cuts through the extreme ends of the debate and gets into the nitty-gritty of what ties people to a particular company. Added bonus...keep on reading or listening for Peter's takes on the rise of employee activism and HR's role in enabling better workforce planning.??
- Forbes:?Here's soundbites from 30 US execs on how they've implemented remote/hybrid arrangements and how it's working for them. This is easily accessible fare with some familiar tidbits. The interesting part involves how many remote-first companies plan to enhance their employees' emotional connections to work and their fellow colleagues.?
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IN THE NEWS
We all know about well-documented talent shortages within sectors such as aviation and health and social care. However, according to the?IC, a dearth of white collar workers in legal and professional services has largely gone unnoticed. And this could have big ramifications.?(Via Investors' Chronicle)
Could "it's an HR problem to solve" be the biggest myth of them all??Digiday's?Worklife?briefing takes a look at the common misconceptions surrounding the language and nuance associated with flexible working.?(Via Worklife)
Values-first or skills-first? Mark Murphy ponders whether we need to reverse-engineer the recruitment process and emphasise company values ahead of technical skills.?(Via ERE)
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WHO'S TALKING?
WFH isn't all lumbering about and hacking off small pieces of cheese for?@Gary_Cookson.?The HR influencer has issued his own riposte to recent comments made by British PM, Boris Johnson.?Twitter
Culture eats strategy for breakfast, right??Dr. Richard Claydon?puts the record straight on the origins on that much-used phrase. All before taking on the whole idea of strategic management and cultural belonging. One for the history buffs and thinkers.?LinkedIn
"Nearly two years on from the BLM protests, companies of all sizes are failing to enact the cultural and operational changes that they promised at the time." A recent CityAM exclusive points out the failure of FTSE100 companies to fulfil their DEI commitments.?Shereen Daniels?takes aim.?LinkedIn
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COUNTDOWN TO THE TIARAS
Our US team is eagerly anticipating the?TIARA Talent Solutions Awards US. We've been shortlisted for 'The Best New Talent Solutions Provider' award, with the winner set to be announced on June 9.
We'll keep you posted!
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What's been the story of H1 2022 for you? In next month's edition we'll be taking a lot at some of the big issues shaping the remainder of the year as the global economy - and the hiring market - navigate a potentially tricky crossroads.?
Until next time...
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