Diversity in the Workforce

The first change facing the future of HR is diversity. Diversity in the workforce is increasing, not just racially, but also with age and gender. With the current state of the economy a lot of people are putting off retirement because they still need the money. Women have also become and will continue to be an important presence in the workforce. Organizations at the forefront of this vast cultural swing will lead the way with HR managers who implement diversity and cultural sensitivity training in their workplaces. Successful hiring decisions in the next generation workforce will have to be free of racial and cultural prejudices.

The second change is that the next generation of workers will be required to be technically savvy. A lot of organizations are finding it hard to obtain a workforce with enough talent for jobs that are now becoming more technically advanced. Technology has changed the face of business practices making them more global, which also ties into become more diverse. A lot of companies short on talent with hire more qualified foreign workers. There will be heightened expectations of the “Facebook” Generation who will influence workplace practices from hiring, recruiting and retention, to compensation, promotion, and training.

Long-range planning can range from one year to ten years; it looks at the current situation and tries to predict future trends and changes. One such change in the HR industry that could require a change in long-range planning of HRIS needs is government regulations. In the next decade the legal and regulatory will go beyond payroll, benefits, and diversification, according to Gueutal & Stone (2005), it will involve increased and more complex compliance with agencies such as the Occupational Saftey and Health Act (OSHA), Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Chapter Nine: The Next Decade of HR used the scandal with Enron to...