We are two months into a new year and HR leaders are continuing to navigate remote and hybrid work arrangements, the acceleration of the Great Resignation, compensation complexities due to rising inflation, and more. They are also being tasked to design programs to help their organizations gain an upper hand in their talent wars while ensuring fairness and equity among their workforces – regardless of where their employees choose to work. So, how do HR teams balance these strategic initiatives and execute day-to-day administrative tasks? Following are some ways that AI solutions can be the key to effective HR teams.
AI in Talent Recruitment and Acquisition
Offering flexible work options was once viewed as a means to slow turnover in one of the tightest labor markets in recent history; now it’s merely table stakes. According to a recent workplace trends report, employees who work in hybrid or fully remote workplaces have fewer “work friends.” They have weaker social and emotional connections with their colleagues, which makes it easier for them to quit their jobs. As a result, HR teams are continuously recruiting for open roles.
Using AI solutions can help streamline the recruiting process by identifying candidates who are the best match between the job requirements and their skills and experience. For example, machine learning (ML) algorithms can learn synonymous words that are used in resumes. AI tools can alert HR/recruiting teams to prospective job candidates who have the desired skillsets (found either through organic search or via a targeted campaign) and flag them to apply for available jobs prior to them being posted online.
AI-based solutions can also enhance the candidate experience during the screening and interview process. For example, candidates can schedule, confirm, and cancel interviews, complete applications, and submit references and other materials for review using AI.
AI can also assist hiring managers by reminding them of upcoming interviews and providing details on candidates. Finally, the use of AI solutions can help remove bias by gathering data from previous employees in similar roles and preparing targeted questions for the hiring managers.
AI and the Employee Experience
Employees have become accustomed to their professional and work lives overlapping. With the increased use of smart assistants such as Alexa and Siri as well as recommendation engines from shopping sites such as Amazon, they are seeking the same consumer experience when they come to work. HR can deliver a more personalized consumer experience while also offloading some of their time-consuming administrative tasks. For example, some companies are deploying chatbots that answer employees’ top questions around benefits including open enrollment, where to access their W2 forms, how to view their 401K balances, and much more. This frees up HR’s time to focus on more strategic initiatives and personal communication with their employees.
HR can also use AI solutions to conduct surveys and gather employee feedback in real-time. They can also share personalized insights with their employees based on those surveys or even self-evaluations. These insights can help management and C-suite engage better with their employees by understanding their day-to-day roles, challenges, and achievements.
AI and Performance Management
Employees working in remote and hybrid work environments experience their companies primarily through their managers. As “coaches,” managers can help their employees and teams maximize their potential, promote a strong work culture, and help drive their organizations’ growth. HR can facilitate manager success by providing them with tools that automate repetitive tasks such as scheduling meetings and approving expense reports, freeing their time to mentor and support their employees.
AI and Learning Development
Today’s fast-moving digital economy is characterized by shifting workplace models, employee turnover, and nimble startups. Employees want more than a paycheck and a static career path. They want to be in the driver’s seat of their careers, with their managers and HR contacts serving as “co-pilots.” AI solutions can help HR and managers provide their employees with personalized career development recommendations that can be adjusted according to business objectives and employee career goals. These recommendations can supplement manager guidance while allowing employees to have greater control over their career planning.
AI-based solutions can also collect insights around each employee’s career progression and deliver it in a personalized way. Each employee can then map their own career path and tie it back to a specific learning experience that’s required to bridge current and projected skills gaps.
By leveraging AI-based solutions, HR leaders can create space to develop and manage strategic initiatives that facilitate business growth, get ahead of The Great Resignation, and ensure a fair and equitable workplace.
