This video features three individuals who have reviewed this years survey and work directly with HR teams across the UK.
Each provides a view on key aspects of the findings.
Innes Clark - Head of Employment at Morton Fraser
Lucy Cotterell - HR Consultant at Mogers Drewett
Sarah Daniels - Health & Safety Consultant at The RedCat Partnership
Business owners have faced more challenges
and changes over the past three years than any time in living memory. Each
decade presents its own issues. In recent history, The financial crisis of
2008/9 and the subsequent recession were certainly no easy ride.
To obtain a copy of the survey email [email protected]
The recession of 2008 was tough, however,
combining the impact of global and local events we can start to put the past
three years into perspective. We’ve had to deal with Covid-19, the aftermath of
Brexit, global warming, the largest European conflict since the end of world
war two, the resultant energy crisis, inflation and subsequent rapid rise in
interest rates leading to a cost-of-living crisis and widespread industrial
action. It all adds up to a bitter
cocktail of pain and uncertainty for business owners and their employees.
For this year’s HReSource survey respondents
were asked to submit their insights across a wide variety of topical issues
impacting the productivity and overall performance of their respective
organisations. The objective was to understand the response to those challenges
and informed views on immediate actions and priorities as they prepare for yet
The results highlight the need for businesses
to remain agile and connected to their workforce.
Headline findings feature the highest-ranked
The greatest challenges facing employers.
Plus this year’s report also highlights the
distinct shift in priorities of employers in the UK, notable when we contrast
with findings from pre-pandemic surveys.
HR professionals are at the sharp end of tackling the issues arising out of the mix of local, national, and global
events. Unsurprisingly those reporting an increase in workload stand at 81% with those stating a “significant rise in
workload” increasing by 44% over our 2018 survey.
These findings reflect the difficulties employers are having in retaining talent and subsequently resourcing
appropriate replacements.
Julie Ouzman Group HR Director at Holdcroft
Motor Group, Stoke-on-Trent, confirmed, “Retention of
staff will be our greatest challenge this year due to pay and working patterns
for certain roles within the company. The opportunity will be to grow our own
'apprenticeship scheme' for technicians across the group.”
Ceri Mallon, HR Manager at Everun,
Belfast, on the topic of challenges ahead added, “Retaining key employees as
the business grows - important to ensure that we keep experience and knowledge
within the business as we onboard new employees.”
Innes Clark, Head of Employment Law at Morton
Fraser LLP commented "It is very interesting to see
that almost a quarter of respondents selected Flexible Working as the area of
law they would like to have reviewed. Whilst the Government is due to implement
reforms to this area it is unlikely that these will satisfy employers given
that the proposed changes are largely employee rather than employer friendly."
commented on the findings, “Business owners need to
move swiftly, adapt to remain resilient and deliver their plans. Those that
succeed will be organisations that demonstrate agility and an ability to flex
with the trends accelerated by recent world events.”
The answer may not be as simple as implementing a 4-day week, which most respondents will consider over the next
two years. What is clear is that doing nothing and expecting things to improve could be a highly risky strategy.
