Generative AI creates in-depth content in forms like stories and processes. In HR technology trends, GenAI improves efficiency and increases innovation by helping teams write policies and provide unique training examples.

According to our survey on HR leaders driving business innovation, most HR innovators (73%) plan to increase the implementation of GenAI in their organizations in the next 18 months to further optimize recruitment and hiring.

This integration includes:

• Writing stand-out job descriptions
• Informing changes based on data
• Finding patterns that work and don’t in current hiring and recruiting practices
• Communicating with potential candidates in the recruitment phase

Modernizing your HR technology with GenAI integration creates more efficient recruitment and hiring processes, giving your team more face time with applicants and employees. Beyond recruitment, AI powers insights into workforce planning and employee engagement strategies. This ultimately leads to better hiring decisions, improved employee satisfaction, and a more productive work environment—giving companies a competitive edge in their respective industry.

Workplace location is one of the hot topics in HR. During the pandemic, we all learned that the office isn’t the only place a person can work productively. Business and HR leaders must make informed decisions about employee workplace locations and stick to them.

Whether in in-person, remote, or hybrid work environments, create and share a transparent HR policy explaining the decision and its reasons. Then, if the shift in workplace location is significant, give employees appropriate time to adjust.

Human interaction is essential, regardless of workplace location. Feeling connected to coworkers improves productivity and company loyalty, but this isn’t happening in many workplaces. According to a BetterUp survey, 69% of employees report being unsatisfied with opportunities for connecting at work.

HR teams should encourage employee interaction to avoid silos and promote idea sharing.

Cultural teams within HR departments can implement some of the following employee engagement methods to increase interaction and enhance the employee experience:

• Coffee chats to meet individuals outside normal teams
• Mentorship programs
• Knowledge share meetings
• Video-on meetings
• Chat channels based on shared interests
• Sponsoring non-work activities (i.e., trivia, social hours, and company volunteer days)

Once you have ideas you want to implement, develop HR policies to encourage employee participation.

Professional development and training are HR topics integral to employee experience. This begins with employee onboarding and continues throughout their tenure. HR teams must be equipped to schedule company-wide development courses and ready to recommend additional training.

Having professional development programs and policies in place will make you stand out among your competition, attracting more talent eager to work for a place that invests in them.

Overallocated teams are a major HR issue across industries, and leveraging AI for employee growth and development offers an efficient solution for employee growth and satisfaction

Creativity and individuality are essential to a company’s ability to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. Employee personalization leads to increases in innovation, engagement, and company culture.

HR teams can inspire personalization among employees in the following ways:

• Promoting a supportive culture: Encourage open communication, idea sharing, and experimentation; acknowledge and celebrate employee contributions.
• Empowering employees: Give employees autonomy to make decisions and schedule their work for their most productive times.
• Showing personality:Allow employees to decorate their workspace in a way that motivates them and reflects their personalities.

Writing the above into your workplace policies ensures employees are free to think creatively and innovate.

HR priorities in the modern workplace must include policies surrounding work-life balance. According to Hubstaff, 73% of workers believe work-life balance is a core factor in choosing a job.

Business and HR leaders must prioritize this employee value to attract and retain talent. HR teams can do the following to promote work-life balance:

• Allow a flexible schedule for employees to attend appointments and important events.
• Encourage employees to finish all work within working hours and avoid weekend work and overtime.
• Promote your PTO policy and encourage employees to take mental health days.
• Let employees log off early before company holidays.

Implementing all or some of the above will improve company culture and make employees feel their personal time is valued.

As workplaces rapidly evolve and HR changes in response, it’s imperative for companies to prepare their employees with skills and knowledge for the future of work. Most relevant right now is embracing emerging technologies like AI and ensuring your employees are ready to adapt to the AI age as it transforms all industries.

HR’s role in this preparation is crucial. These teams will lead the implementation of relevant training programs, empower employees to think critically as they adopt new technologies, and encourage innovation.

The future-ready workforce must continually learn, grow, and be resilient, all characteristics stemming from strong HR support.

Digital learning, also known as e-learning, uses technology to deliver educational content. In the digital age, it has become a valuable tool for companies to onboard, upskill, and train their employees. Knowing the future of digital learning, like extended reality, will help your company stay competitive with modernized practices.

For HR teams, digital learning is scalable and deployable to employees regardless of location. It also makes onboarding and training easier for overallocated HR departments.

Technology boosts employee productivity, allowing them to accomplish tasks and brainstorm faster. Tools like AI for productivity are immensely helpful in reducing repetitive tasks and preventing burnout.

Simply allowing employees to use technology in the workplace is a great start. However, it also requires HR oversight. Teams must implement policies to encourage the ethical use of AI and other tools.

Policies should include information on:

• Data privacy
• Transparency
• Accountability
• Copyright and plagiarism laws
• Examples and use-cases

Increasing productivity through technology is essential in the modern workplace, but it must also be done ethically and within HR guidelines.

HR has always tracked individual employee efficiency, but this task has become more difficult with remote and hybrid work. Finding tools like HR shared services powered by AI can make the process of monitoring workers an easier task for your HR team. Investments in technology with use-case guidelines will also help increase overall company efficiency.

Even with policies and guidelines in place, boosting employee efficiency requires experimentation and time to find what works. Being transparent and encouraging open communication makes employees more comfortable in seeking help. Tailoring efficiency plans to the individual with the support of technology often provides the best results.

Burnout negatively impacted 72% of employees' performances, according to an isolved survey. HR departments serve as an employee resource, helping them find the information they need to succeed. Employee wellbeing extends beyond the office, and companies who acknowledge this stand out.

In addition to traditional offerings like insurance and retirement plans, a modern HR team needs a strategy for maintaining employee well-being.

This can include investing in additional benefits like an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and mental health services. It can also include showing employee appreciation, recognition for a job well done, and establishing parameters to prevent burnout.

Diversity matters in all areas of our world. As such, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become imperative for companies to succeed and thrive in the modern workforce. HR teams play a crucial role in developing, implementing, and enforcing DEI policies.

These policies help establish a fair, equitable, and inclusive workplace that will make your company competitive through creating a culture of belonging, attracting and retaining talent, and fostering innovation. Other benefits of DEI policies include boosting employee morale and creating a powerful reputation as a responsible and ethical employer.

Companies must take a public stance on key issues, especially those deemed important by employees. In fact, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer, 61% of people expect CEOs to speak publicly about issues they care about when considering a job at a company. By clarifying company values and beliefs, organizations show their commitment to positively impacting society and building trust with stakeholders.

Clear and consistent HR policies must be in place and aligned with company values to help communicate guidelines to employees and ensure consistency throughout messaging. In taking a stance, companies are more likely to support relevant causes and become ingrained in communities.

When deciding which priorities your business and team should focus on, list your goals to determine what HR trends will make the biggest impact. With changes in HR occurring, it’s imperative to stay on top of the emerging trends in HR to remain competitive and experience true business growth.

Follow this step-by-step guide for prioritization:

• 1. Understand your business goals and challenges.
• 2. Gather relevant data and insights, like employee satisfaction scores and turnover rates.
• 3. Align HR priorities and business priorities.
• 4. Prioritize HR activities.
• 5. Develop an action plan with SMART objectives.
• 6. Monitor, evaluate, and adjust your goals based on progress and effectiveness.

Now that you’re aware of the latest HR trends and know which are the highest priority for your business, look for ways to streamline your HR practices. With ServiceNow’s HR Service Delivery (HRSD), you can improve your team’s productivity and give employees easy access to the help and guidance they need. One platform enterprise automation optimizes the employee experience from hiring date to retirement, making AI work for you and your HR team.

Watch a demo of HRSD today to learn more.