Scared of HR, multilingual workers, human sustainability
Here are 5 things to know about work this week.
Hello, and welcome to WorkLife’s 5 things newsletter. In this weekly newsletter, we will spotlight five things to know about the latest issues affecting modern workplaces.?
It’s a weekly compilation of highlights selected from WorkLife’s daily newsletter. Sign up here to get an in-depth look at how work, the workplace and workforces are changing to meet new needs and expectations, in your inbox every weekday morning.
1. Are you scared of HR?
Is HR … scary? Over 80% of workers said they’re afraid of their employer’s HR department, according to a survey of over 1,000 U.S. workers from MyPerfectResume , a resume and career advice platform.
Some 85% of workers said they’ve hesitated to discuss a work-related issue with HR, citing concerns like a lack of confidentiality, perceived ineffectiveness of HR, fear of repercussions and uncertainty about HR’s response.
And some 37% of workers said they just find HR workers to be unapproachable. It’s an issue for those in HR roles who can’t do their jobs effectively if the people they’re in charge of don’t trust them, but there are some steps HR leaders can take to make staff feel more comfortable and be more clear about their function. And workplace experts say much of the fear is likely stemming from the fact that staff are just confused about HR’s responsibilities.
2. Upskill by learning a new language
As a part of a widespread upskilling initiative by workers looking to stand out in a tight labor market, more people are learning a new language.
Specifically, more than one-third of users on the language learning app Memrise are learning a language to find new career opportunities, according to the app. And Babbel saw 50% year-over-year growth last year for its Babbel for Business product globally. Currently, Babbel has more than 2,000 corporate clients, ranging from Chanel to The New York Yankees.?
WorkLife previously reported on how multilingualism is an increasingly valuable trait in the workplace and is in constant demand in roles including business, tech, healthcare, education and more. Multilingual workers get paid more and are widely considered more hireable. According to 2024 data from ed tech platform GoStudent , 39% of Americans have expressed intentions to learn a new language, with career advancement being a primary motivator for 30% of them.
3. Office tour: data encryption tech company Virtru
Tuesdays and Thursdays are typically bustling at Virtru ’s office in downtown Washington, D.C., just a few blocks from the White House. Staff at the data encryption tech company came back to work in person about a year ago when Virtru opened its newest space on the building’s fifth floor.
The nearly 17,000-square-foot office is eclectic and vibrant, and includes a variety of different spaces and seating arrangements where the company’s hybrid staff can make themselves comfortable. It has two dedicated conference rooms, and three other flexible meeting room spaces with drapery to keep them open or private.?
Dedicated desks are also part of Virtru's office environment, which some other companies have done away with in hybrid arrangements. While part of the office is bright and airy, the back of the space is darker and more relaxed, and features a new kitchen, game room and speakeasy-like room.
Come along with us for a tour.
4. What happens when a workforce focuses on human sustainability?
According to a new workforce study, 64% of workers are more attracted to organizations that create value for workers, and 79% of leaders agree that their organization is responsible for doing so. Yet, only 21% of leaders feel ready to tackle these issues effectively.
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That’s according to 德勤 ’s 2024 Global Human Capital Trends Report. Deloitte has been working with companies to embed human sustainability into the fabric of their organizations.?
But what exactly is human sustainability and why are more organizations thinking about it today? We spoke to workplace leaders to get a better understanding.
“A human sustainability mindset replaces transactional thinking about people, focusing on creating greater value for each person connected to the organization,” said Susan Cantrell , vice president of products, workforce strategies at Deloitte. “By focusing on human sustainability, leaders can make a positive cycle where better support for individuals leads to better results for the organization.”
5. AI adoption slows
A staggering 82% of workers say their organizations have still not provided training for employees on using generative AI.?
That’s from Asana ’s State of AI at Work report, done in partnership with Anthropic, which surveyed nearly 5,000 knowledge workers in the U.S. and UK.?
The boom of GenAI has been due in part to early adopters, or those who were excited to try new technologies that would ultimately allow them to be more productive and efficient by delegating mundane tasks or brainstorming new ideas with the bots. WorkLife reported last year that C-suite execs were all-in on generative AI and people generally are less afraid and instead more hungry to reskill in AI.
But, more recent reports and workplace experts say that AI adoption is starting to slow down with early experimenters in the rearview, requiring closer detail around everything from choosing what GenAI tools to use to ensuring AI usage is being tracked closely for the more nervous group of workers.
Color by numbers
WorkLife is asking our readers how they’re approaching modern work. This past week, we asked them three questions related to our recent coverage. Here’s what we found.
60% of 60 respondents said fully remote and 40% said hybrid.?
46% of 40 respondents said meeting multi-tasking and 44% said not muting during a video call.
56% of 50 respondents said video calls.
Elsewhere in Digiday Media
Check out some of Digiday Media’s other stories on the future of work over the past week:
This is a weekly compilation of highlights from WorkLife’s daily newsletter. Sign up here to get WorkLife’s comprehensive work coverage in your inbox each morning.
This newsletter was curated by Cloey Callahan , senior reporter at WorkLife. Let us know what you think, or what you hope to see more of, by dropping us a note at [email protected].