The New Challenges for CHROs

As if navigating a global health crisis wasn’t enough, as the pandemic abates, chief human resources officers are going to have new, fresh challenges on their plates. One of the first is a return to a growth mindset. According to a recent study, more than 61 middle-market companies say that adding to their workforces will be a priority in 2021, which for many CHROs means rethinking recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies for digital spaces. Another potential challenge for the new year is how to reskill and upskill employees. Companies need their employees to learn new skills to stay relevant in their respective industries. This isn’t good news, as according to the same study, 55 percent of middle-market CHROs say their training and development functionality is weak or extremely weak. Finally, reinvigorating employees and increasing both productivity and engagement will be on the priority list. This past year was extremely challenging, and many employees are feeling the results of prolonged stress and burnout. Looking to the future, CHROs are going to need to develop novel ways to get employees’ heads back in the game and find their places in the new realities of work.