Podcast with Tom Haak / Velox Future Five

Get the basics right. And that has nothing to do with trends. Treat employees respectfully and properly.

What does our future look like? Velox looks into an expert's crystal ball and preludes to what lies ahead. This edition: the trends and developments of HR according to Tom Haak. For 10 years, Tom has led the HR Trent Institute. Trend watchers in the field of people and organizations.

Here are the five long-term trends in HR according to Tom Haak.

1. Employer journey; what kind of experience employees have

It is important to pay more attention to the employee experience, the employee journey. This is not just about parties and other activities outside of work hours, but mainly about the content of the work itself. In outlining the employee journey, from the moment someone is interested in the organization until the end of employment, there are many opportunities to improve the employee experience. Example: make sure a new employee's first day of work goes smoothly and that everyone is aware of his or her arrival. By improving the employee experience, organizations can reduce employee turnover and increase productivity and performance.

2. Takes into account employees' personal needs

It is important to consider the personal needs of employees. It is important to ask questions and listen to employees and see who is best at which tasks in order to make the best use of employees' capacity. However, many companies stick to predefined roles, tasks and responsibilities (RTV), describing A, B and C, for example. But perhaps someone is only very good at A and a little at B, while he or she is not suited for task C. It is therefore important to consider whether task C would be better placed with someone else who is good at it.

3. Hiring new employees is too slow

While everything is getting faster and faster, organizations often seem super slow to act, for example, in the recruitment process. Often this takes weeks and precious time is lost. While diligence is key, it is still possible to maintain speed in the recruitment process, for example by scheduling interviews at set times. By choosing a fixed day per month or every two weeks and reserving a few time slots for job interviews, the process can be faster without sacrificing diligence. It is critical to continue to look for ways to increase the speed and efficiency of recruiting new employees without compromising quality.

4. Technology and data are becoming increasingly important 

Technology is not yet being used to its full potential in the workplace. While much technology is used to improve efficiency, it is still relatively little used to simplify or even transform people's lives at work. People often continue to rely on their own perceptions and do not yet make enough use of technology and data to support their work. Of course, people and technology are inseparable and can be mutually reinforcing. It is important to harness the benefits of technology so that it contributes to a better work experience for employees and helps organizations achieve their goals.

5. A shared purpose increases engagement

The search for meaning in work is becoming increasingly important to people. This is particularly apparent among young professionals, who are looking for a work environment where they can make a difference and where their work contributes to society. They are looking for organizations that actively strive for a better world and are willing to do their part. It is important to them that they get a sense of satisfaction from their work and know that their efforts are contributing to a better future for all.

Then and now

Over the past 10 years, things do change in the HR landscape, but it's happening slower than you would like, according to Tom Haak. If you look at technology, you see very big and fast developments, but when people are asked to draw out an organization, they quickly draw a pyramid. With a boss at the top and an organizational chart underneath. And that's still pretty traditional, Tom said. The corona pandemic briefly acted as an accelerator of some developments, such as the use of technology in work. But in general, again, we see a regression to old patterns.

Equal treatment

Who is in charge? The employer or employee? According to Tom, the power lies with the employer. Not much has changed in that in recent years. But a portion of the working population, think freelancers and self-employed workers, shirk those traditional power relations. According to Tom, that target group is growing. Tom: "There are a lot of people in the flexible shell that you often need very badly. Make sure you treat those people well, so that when you need them again they are happy to work for you." And invest in development regardless of whether someone is salaried or self-employed. Both contribute to the organization.

Getting the basics right

Get the basics right. And that has nothing to do with trends. Treat employees in a respectful and good way. Be friendly, pay good salaries, engage with employees and listen to them.