Three in five HR practitioners have upskilled or reskilled as a result of their organisation’s response to the pandemic, a report has found.
Half of the 1,502 professionals who took part in the CIPD and Workday annual people profession survey say they had to upskill, while a further 11% have had to learn entirely new HR skills in a different area of work in order to effectively respond to changes borne out of the crisis.
These findings are in sharp contrast to what HR professionals said last year, when 83% of survey respondents across the UK and Ireland said they felt they had the right skills to deal with any challenges.
“2020 was an exceptional year for our profession,” said CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese. “The difficult external circumstances put great demand on all of us, and people professionals have been at the forefront of the organisational response, supporting people, implementing rapid changes, and adapting and learning.
“It’s great to see so many colleagues recognising the need to strengthen their skills and ensure they have the right expertise to guide and make an impact in their organisations in an ever-changing world of work.”
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Fifty-seven per cent of UK people professionals said they play a vital role in influencing organisational strategy and direction, which could explain why many felt the need to enhance their capabilities.
The survey also asked about the contribution and impact people functions have on organisations. Fifty-two percent recognise links between HR practices and business outcomes that are agreed across their organisation; 58% have a clear understanding of what success looks like in organisational outcomes; 73% work collaboratively across business functions to meet organisational needs; and 52% feel they add financial value by supporting organisational effectiveness.
Four in 10 believe the standing of HR and people processionals has increased because of the work they have done during the pandemic.
Cheese added: “We’ve always been aware of the vital role our profession plays, but the pandemic has accelerated a focus to putting people much more front and centre in the business agenda, and for our profession to step forward and demonstrate their skills and abilities.
“Now is the time to see people professionals build on the fantastic work they’ve done over the last year and continue driving change in their organisations as we continue to navigate the pandemic and the changing future of work and working practices.”
The report also finds that:
- 63% think external drivers are forcing their organisations to change, with Covid-19 and societal change the main disrupters
- Digital transformation is the biggest driver of internal change (63%), followed by demands for flexible working (41%)
- 55% agree that home working has made supporting employees’ mental health and wellbeing more difficult
- 48% say building organisational culture and values, and managing performance, have become more difficult
- Supporting line managers to manage their teams more effectively has become more challenging for 45%
- Investing in learning, upskilling and professional development has been more difficult for 41%.
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Michael Douroux, global vice president, Northern Europe and South Africa at Workday, said: “Amidst huge uncertainty and a fast-changing environment, leaders have helped people stay informed, engaged and supported. As we all strive to recover and make the world of work better, applying what we’ve learned over the last year, it’s clear that a data-driven agile culture is vital – leading to better-informed decisions and fewer surprises along the way.”
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