Mobility and Teleworking, 2 Key Trends in HR Management in 2018

Commercial trends come and go, but they have an impact on our daily work life. With regard to human resources management, the evolution of technology and a change in the needs of employees will continue to shape the trends we will see in 2018. Among them, mobility and teleworking will be consolidated as trends in management of human resources during this year.

As HR professionals look for ways to operate more effectively, there are four key trends that EPAY Systems’ human capital management experts believe they will have to add to their strategies as 2018 develops. 

Key Trends in HR Management in 2018

 1.- Increase in flexible work schedules

“Flexible work arrangements” is a term that will continue to be heard throughout 2018 for one reason: Millennials are now the largest generational part of the workforce, and the flexibility of working life is a priority for this demographic group.

More than half (52%) of HR professionals said their companies currently offer flexible work schedules for some employees, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Moreover, SHRM members reported that the retention rates of employees in companies improved when they were aware of the possibility of teleworking.

2.- Teleworking growth

According to a study by Global Workplace Analytics, between 80% and 90% of the US workforce wants to work remotely at least part-time. In fact, teleworking has increased by 115% in the last decade in the United States.

Employees who work remotely report higher morale, lower absenteeism and greater willingness to work overtime. And, contrary to what one might think, multiple studies indicate that remote workers demonstrate greater productivity. In this way, business mobility is confirmed as one of the most consolidated trends.

3.- Increase in social recruitment

85% of companies use social networks as a recruiting vehicle. It is such an effective method that it even has its own name now: social recruitment.

In 2018, we will see more companies take advantage of mobile recruitment platforms. According to Pew Research Center, 28% of all Americans (and 53% of those aged 18 to 29) use their smartphones to search for work. Half of them have completed a job application using their phones.

4.- Use of technology for the management of the human resources program

We continue to see great advances in human resources technology in each area, from time and attendance systems and benefit management to recruitment and performance management programs.

According to the survey of Human Resources Systems of Sierra-Cedar 2017-2018, 50% of companies have purchased a human resources application based on the cloud. The migration to the cloud will continue to expand throughout 2018.

In conclusion, workers increasingly use their own mobile device to perform work-related activities. In this sense, companies are increasingly flexible about where and when employees work. Telecommuting is, therefore, a trend that will continue to expand over the next few years.