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Advice for HR Managers in 2023

Writer's picture: Flavia CristianFlavia Cristian

HR managers had a tough enough job before the pandemic. But now they face the added complexity of working with teams they can't even see most of the time, at least not in person.

And that's not going to change. A Gallup poll found that 59% of workers favor hybrid working moving forward over full on-site or exclusively remote work

An HR woman is sitting at her desk, looking at a computer screen with charts and graphs. She appears to be analyzing employee data, including office occupancy rates and statistics related to hybrid work arrangements. She is focused and attentive, with a pen and notepad nearby for taking notes. The office environment around her is modern and well-lit, with other employees working at their desks in the background.
Managing day-to-day tasks, office occupancy and employee engagement

But this seeming difficulty, in reality, presents an opportunity for streamlining HR operations. With the right software, talent management can improve team functions and access hard data that drives efficiency savings.

The Role of the Human Resources

HR managers play a critical role in ensuring the smooth functioning of an organization's operations. Like never before, businesses recognize that the ability to recruit and retain talent is critical to success.

This has placed additional pressure on managing talent. HR is responsible for developing and implementing efficient processes to identify and select the best candidates for various positions. Once these candidates are hired, Human Resources must provide them with a seamless onboarding experience and support their growth within the organization.

Although the responsibilities of an HR manager can be demanding and come with a significant amount of pressure, it is essential to maintain composure and focus on executing the necessary duties.

Struggles Facing HR Managers in 2023

Human Resources are confronted with a range of challenges. The foremost among them is the task of effectively overseeing a workforce that is increasingly seeking and anticipating hybrid work arrangements. Simultaneously, a recent survey by JP Morgan Chase has revealed that the anticipated economic downturn is weighing heavily on the minds of many organizations. Consequently, HR leaders are facing mounting pressure to curtail expenses by enhancing operational efficiency and optimizing resource utilization.

Why FLEXIDESK Is the Solution

In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern workplaces, the stakes for HR managers have never been higher. An unoccupied office is not only a waste of resources, but also a hindrance to employee productivity. Furthermore, resource cuts made without adequate data can lead to disarray and a suboptimal hybrid work environment. In an ironic twist, employees may end up being forced to work remotely due to a shortage of office space.

In-Depth: Struggles Facing HR Managers in 2023

It’s 2023, and the landscape of HR operations is rapidly evolving. To ensure employee retention and productivity, HR managers must confront four critical challenges:

1. Managing the Hybrid Workforce

As companies increasingly adopt remote and hybrid working models, HR has an essential role in enabling teams and managers to effectively monitor their own work load. Finding the right balance between monitoring and trust is crucial, as excessive monitoring could undermine employee morale. Additionally, without reliable desk booking software, managers may encounter difficulties coordinating their teams and maximizing the utilization of office space. It is therefore imperative for Talent managers to provide the necessary tools and support to enable effective management of remote and hybrid working employees.

2. Adapting to the New Health and Safety Measures

Many government health agencies, such as OSHA in the US, have issued guidance to assist businesses in protecting workers. In addition, other government health agencies around the world have issued similar guidance to help businesses protect their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published guidance on how to maintain safe working conditions during the pandemic. Similarly, WorkSafeBC in Canada has issued guidelines for different industries to follow to ensure worker safety. The burden of designing and implementing new health and safety policies within the office often falls on Human Resources. Therefore, managing the office environment is a key consideration.

3. Keeping Up With the Remote Work Trend

Before working from home was a thing, HR were mostly catering to the in-office employees. Additionally, HR managers must now also ensure that remote workers are appropriately supported and managed. This includes providing the necessary infrastructure, communication tools, and processes for remote work. People managers also need to establish clear guidelines and expectations for remote workers, including measures for tracking and monitoring their productivity. Moreover, talent managers must address the challenges of remote team collaboration, such as ensuring that remote workers have the same opportunities for professional development and career growth as their office-based colleagues. Overall, staying ahead of the curve in remote work trends is crucial for HR to maintain a competitive edge in talent acquisition and retention.

4. Ensuring Employee Satisfaction and Productivity

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on employees' mental health. A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that remote workers are at a higher risk of depression and anxiety than their office-based counterparts. The study, which analyzed data from over 400,000 participants, revealed that remote workers reported higher levels of job-related stress, lack of support from colleagues and supervisors, and difficulty balancing work and personal life. These factors contribute to decreased job satisfaction and increased burnout among remote workers.

To address these challenges, HR professionals must adopt strategies to support the mental health and wellbeing of their remote teams. This includes providing access to mental health resources and support, encouraging regular check-ins between managers and team members, and promoting a healthy work-life balance. HR managers can also facilitate team-building activities and virtual social events to foster a sense of community and connection among remote workers. By prioritizing employee wellbeing, HR can not only improve team morale and productivity, but also attract and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive job market.

The Solution: Smart Office

For businesses looking to optimize their office space utilization, a desk booking software is a game-changing solution. It simplifies the booking process, enabling employees to reserve desks quickly and easily, without worrying about availability. With the ability to book the same desk each week, employees can enjoy a sense of routine and structure in their workdays.

One of the key benefits of FLEXIDESK is its real-time occupancy overview. Employees can easily see where their colleagues are located at any given time, streamlining communication and collaboration. Furthermore, HR managers can obtain valuable data on resource utilization, enabling them to make informed decisions about office space requirements and computer hardware purchasing.

Such a system is also an ideal and simple solution for managing hybrid work agreements, as it allows employees to seamlessly transition between remote work and office-based work. With its intuitive interface and powerful data analytics, FLEXIDESK is a must-have tool for managers seeking to optimize their office space and boost employee productivity.

Help to Manage the Hybrid Workforce

Every organization's resources are finite. FLEXIDESK allows you to schedule their usage efficiently. The booking process is simple, and managers can check at any time how well resources are being used and gain insights into employee preferences and habits.

Health and Safety Benefits

In today's rapidly evolving workplace, HR managers need real-time data to ensure a safe working environment. FLEXIDESK provides this data by simplifying contact tracing and providing valuable insights into employee behavior. With this information, HR managers can customize their health and safety policies to better support their hybrid employees. With FLEXIDESK, enforcing social distancing and attendance limits is effortless.

Streamlining Remote Work

In the past, when everyone came into the office, it was easy to know where colleagues were located. However, in a hybrid office, it can be challenging to stay connected. FLEXIDESK can help recreate that ease of communication by providing real-time information on the whereabouts of employees. Managers and employees can easily see where their colleagues are located and how to contact them, streamlining communication and collaboration.

Furthermore, FLEXIDESK enables employees to schedule their workdays more efficiently, improving their work-life balance and boosting productivity. With the ability to plan their working pattern weeks in advance and reserve their preferred workspace, employees can focus on their work without worrying about office space availability.

Overall, a smart and simple desk system is a valuable tool for HR managers seeking to improve communication, boost productivity, and optimize office space utilization. By leveraging this technology, organizations can create a more connected and productive workforce, ultimately driving better business outcomes.

Optimize your workplace with FLEXIDESK

As the workplace evolves, organizations must adapt to new challenges to remain competitive. FLEXIDESK offers a solution for HR operations seeking to streamline communication, optimize resource utilization, and support hybrid working models.

FLEXIDESK is the ultimate desk booking software, designed to make hybrid work, simply work! By effectively managing your workspaces, you can free up your teams to focus on the core aspects of your business. You can effortlessly create a productive and connected workforce, while reducing costs and improving employee satisfaction.

Take control of your workplace with FLEXIDESK and start reaping the benefits today. Sign up for a free account and experience the power of desk booking software firsthand. With FLEXIDESK, you can optimize your workplace, boost productivity, and stay ahead of the competition. Create a free account today!


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