Future of Work

TEXT: DAVID J. CORD

One of the biggest challenges companies face is finding, developing and retaining the right talent. To make it even tougher, what companies need and what the workforce can provide are evolving – and that evolution isn’t necessarily complementary.

“OECD research says 14% of jobs in member countries are likely to be automated,” says Jan Laurijssen, HR Evangelist at SD Worx. “Technology will create new jobs, but these new jobs will require new skills. And it isn’t just new technical skills we need, but abilities like creativity, leadership and problem-solving.”

“Employee work is sensitive to changing global phenomena, such as how working during covid suddenly made Finns prefer hybrid work,” says Hanna Mattinen, SD Worx’s Country Lead for Finland. “HR must be agile. The employee-employer relationship is becoming more personalised.”

Founded in 1945, SD Worx helps organisations across Europe with HR solutions including payroll, workforce management and consulting.

AS COMPANIES, STAFF AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP evolve, HR becomes even more important. Organisations need to improve recruiting and onboarding, identify and nurture in-house talent, as well as complement needs such as finding the right freelancers.

“We conduct a lot of research to understand how and why work is evolving and what organisations can do to benefit from it,” Laurijssen continues. “The future of work requires companies to become super digital and super human.”

There are new digital solutions which can reduce payroll complexity, automate repetitive tasks and improve communications, for example, but companies also need to be more human – and humane – in their relationship with employees. This includes everything from supporting career development to employee health. Companies need a sustainable workforce, where the work environment supports employee wellbeing.

“We see our task at SD Worx as helping our customers become better employers, and part of this is the culture and understanding of the work-life balance,” says Mattinen. “For instance, in Finland there is more awareness of our mental health. We can’t separate personal and work-related absenteeism because they are interconnected. It is much better to support a person’s health so they don’t need to take a leave.”

MODERN HR SYSTEMS HAVE A WEALTH OF DATA which can be used to spot developing trends and allow companies to make evidence-based actions. By taking the right actions today, organisations can help staff develop to improve efficiency, employee satisfaction and the bottom line.

Mattinen says: “If any business leader is interested in hearing more about how we see the future of work and how to take advantage of it, please get in touch at hanna.mattinen@sdworx.com.” |

Read more at: sdworx.com