Feels like only yesterday we revealed the emerging HR trends for 2024. And here we are, January 2025, looking at what this year has in store for your workplace.
So, what can you expect?
Yes, those post-covid themes still feature heavily (hybrid working? Check). But they’ve continued evolving to become more deeply rooted in modern workplace culture, so the working landscape looks different from just 12 months ago. And there are a couple of new entries you’ll want the heads-up on as a business owner or HR leader.
Here’s a whistle-stop tour of our anticipated HR trends for 2025.
AI and HR Technology
While the hype around AI continues, hysteria is finally decreasing. Forbes describes what this as a ‘new paradigm’ in which the narrative is switching ‘from replacement to augmentation’. The path forward lies in collaboration, letting the machine get on with routine tasks while employees focus on those activities that require the human touch.
Skills – Hiring, Reskilling and Upskilling
Never before have the words lifelong learning been used so widely and literally in the workplace. The ongoing emergence of AI technologies keeps the emphasis firmly on skills rather than education when recruiting. No longer is upskilling and reskilling an optional perk – it’s now an imperative of job roles. Your employees need to embrace continuous learning “for both organizational success and individual career resilience.” (Forbes)
Human-centred Leadership
With all this technological transformation, it is up to leaders to ensure employees stay engaged and resilient. By leading from the front and demonstrating that you’re embracing change, you set the tone for a positive and collaborative team environment.
Employee Wellbeing
The days of viewing wellbeing programmes as an employee perk listed alongside free coffee and eye test vouchers are long gone. Personalisation is key, looking at each employee’s experience and monitoring workload to reduce the potential for stress.
Hybrid and Flexible Working
Hard to think back to a post-covid world where flexible working wasn’t the norm, isn’t it? Despite some organisations concerted efforts to get their workforce 100% back on-site, the hybrid model looks set to be a permanent one. Flexibility is an attractive incentive, one that not only aids retention but also entices top talent.
Purpose Driven Culture
First of our ‘new-for-2025’ entries. Prompted by the growing number of GenZ’ers entering the workforce, a purpose driven culture integrates ‘sustainability and social responsibility into their core values’ (Midshift Blog). Employees want to see that businesses are about more than just the bottom line. You need to show commitment to ‘ethical practices and environmental goals’ – not just in words, but in actions too.
The Plan to ‘Make Work Pay’ – The Employment Rights Bill
In November 2024, the government announced major reforms to UK work environments. The wide-ranging plan includes changes to ‘flexibility, family rights, equality, fair pay, and trade union freedoms’ (Sirsha Haldar, General Manager for the UK and Northern Europe, ADP). For business and HR leaders, this will require reviews of processes, policies, contracts, and much more. Are you ready?
And there we have it – the top trends impacting HR in 2025. We’ll delve deeper into each of these areas in the coming months, exploring the challenges and opportunities they present to your business. By keeping up to date with industry shifts, you ensure your business fulfils your people’s evolving needs while staying ahead of your competition.
If you’d like to discuss any of these topics, please contact our team on enquires@sylobeyondhr.com