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Key HR issues
South African people management and development professionals are currently faced with the following key HR issues:
Innovative talent retention strategies
Coming up with innovative strategies to retain talent, eg innovative remuneration, in the face of aggressive ‘poaching’ by overseas countries such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia and the lure of earning dollars or pounds.
Overseas parent companies are now more willing to engage in foreign postings and swapping to give employees international exposure. Companies are more prepared to invest in their talented people by ‘handcuffing’ them through executive development programmes at Harvard or Stanford
Performance management
Performance contracts are the order of the day for CEOs and their senior executive team even in the public sector. Unions have also been engaged in the performance discussion and it is gaining acceptance. This is the theme for this year’s convention.
Evaluating training effectiveness
The importance of investing in people has been recognised. However, HR is expected to demonstrate the effectiveness and impact of training not only on productivity but also on the quality of people in the organisation.
Implementation of legislation
Employees are more ready to challenge employers in the labour courts. HR is engaged in coaching line managers to know the law and act accordingly. Gone are the days when IR was HR’s problem.
E-HR
Organisations are investing in IT systems for HR. Intensive training of employees is taking place to enable them to handle basic administrative tasks, eg applying for leave on-line, etc.
New economic/social trends
The economic slowdown has resulted in many companies downsizing. Everybody is faced with pressure to do more with fewer people.
New innovative HR initiatives
Using IT to free HR managers from administration and allowing them to play a more strategic role.
New people management techniques
The introduction of ‘Lifestyle managers’ where companies make arrangements to take your kids to school, take your dry-cleaning, etc.
Other significant issues
The United Nations’ ‘World Conference Against Racism and Related Intolerances’ recently held in Durban has brought the issue of workplace diversity, employment equity and understanding racism and developing good practice to the fore. Many companies are engaged in conducting in-house workshops for their staff in an effort to eradicate racism and intolerance from the workplace.
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