Warning: AI and other HR Challenges Converge to Create the Perfect Storm
SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. delivered a stark warning: a perfect storm is on the horizon, and it's set to radically disrupt our workplaces.
As we continue to navigate the post-pandemic world, HR professionals are facing an unprecedented convergence of challenges. Speaking yesterday, June 24, at the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2024 in Chicago, SHRM President and CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. delivered a stark warning: a perfect storm is on the horizon, and it's set to radically disrupt our workplaces.
Taylor highlighted the multitude of issues converging to create this storm: talent and education shortages, the demand for reskilling, the phenomenon of quiet quitting, the radical disruption brought by AI, and rising incivility in workplaces. The message was clear—organizations can no longer afford to be passive. They must embrace these challenges head-on to emerge stronger and more resilient.
A Looming Crisis: Only 12% of HR professionals believe their organizations are using AI effectively
One of the most pressing issues highlighted by Taylor is the ineffective use of technology, particularly AI, within organizations. A McKinsey & Company report states that in the next decade, over 1 billion jobs will be transformed by technology, with up to 30% of the workforce potentially jobless in seven years due to AI advancements. Despite this looming transformation, only 12% of HR professionals believe their organizations are using AI effectively.
Embrace AI to Stay Ahead
To navigate this storm, HR leaders must become experts in managing use of AI and other emerging technologies. Taylor emphasized the necessity of partnering with IT and other departments to fully understand and leverage AI. This collaboration is crucial to ensuring that businesses do not fall behind—or worse, fail—due to technological advancements they are unprepared for (remember those companies that didn’t adopt E-commerce?)
Upskilling and Reskilling: The Path Forward
The skills gap is another critical area of concern. As traditional college pathways prove insufficient in meeting the demands of the modern workforce, organizations need to shift their focus toward vocational training, apprenticeships, and continuous reskilling opportunities. Employees can take reskilling on themselves as well. No need to wait for your organization to provide training. Upskill on your own to improve your employability.
Fostering Civility in the Workplace
In addition to technological challenges, workplace incivility is on the rise. SHRM's Civility Index reveals that U.S. workers encounter over 171 million acts of incivility daily, with approximately 24.7 billion occurring in the workplace annually. As the U.S. presidential election approaches, these numbers are expected to rise, further straining workplace environments.
Taylor called on HR leaders to promote civil conversations and bridge divides through open dialogue. SHRM's “1 Million Civil Conversations” campaign aims to engage businesses and individuals in fostering civility, which is essential not only for stronger workplaces but also for societal betterment.
We Must Run Into the Storm
Taylor’s keynote serves as a call to action for HR professionals. The challenges ahead are significant and multifaceted, but they also present an opportunity for HR to prove its worth and influence. By embracing AI, prioritizing upskilling, and fostering civility, organizations can weather the storm and emerge stronger.
The spotlight is on HR now more than ever. As Taylor aptly put it, “Choose the courage to run into the storm. You will come out of this wiser, stronger because you were not built to break.”
As we prepare for the future, it’s clear that proactive leadership and a willingness to embrace change will be the keys to navigating the perfect storm of challenges facing HR and organizations worldwide.
References:
- Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2024 Keynote Speech
- McKinsey & Company Report on Job Transformation and AI
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