The biggest detractors of digitalization like to make it rhyme with dehumanization ... Which is unfortunate, as it is the function deemed the most human of the company!
It is therefore essential to twist the blow to this commonplace. To do this, let's see how in the midst of digital (r)evolution, digital makes HR more human...
Tools that are becoming digital, for a function that is becoming more human
By automating certain recurring tasks that do not add value, HR is made more human. They are getting back to some fundamentals that had been forgotten during the last decades. During the 80's and 90's, human resources often went wrong. They were more inspired by financial management than by human management... Reputed to be the "Moscow eye" of General Management, some HR departments were thus locked into producing evaluation tables and grids aimed at "rationalizing services", or even at optimizing the application of redundancy plans...
Of course, all this has not disappeared, but the good news is that the digital revolution has been accompanied in recent years by an ethical revolution. This has allowed HR to use the time freed up by technology to put itself at the service of "People".
From now on, delegating the task of producing data, editing processes or managing vacation schedules to HR management software frees up precious time for HR department employees. The trend is to use this time to serve the real purpose of the function. HR is strengthening its presence alongside the employee to make its role in the company useful and fulfilling...
HR creates human value through digital
The advent of Quality of Life at Work (QWL)
The notion has never been so prevalent in companies. Beyond the "Mr. Happiness" who has become a bit stereotypical, HR departments are increasingly asking themselves a central question. How can HR policies really contribute to employee well-being? The answer is no longer in the implementation of a few green plants or team building operations. HR policies that contribute to well-being are based on rethinking work organization models: employee autonomy, a work environment where the individual expresses his or her personality in an authentic way, and a deep sense of shared purpose.
We are also witnessing a real overhaul of management and organizations. These are aimed at aligning the interests of the company with those of its employees. The challenge is certainly vast, but the work has begun in many companies where the watchword is to combine economic performance with a positive employee experience. So, technology is now ready to be put at the service of an organization where people come first...
Promoting diversity
Age, gender, origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, place of residence... Are we talking about grounds for discrimination that are listed in the penal code, or are we talking about differences that can be considered as levers of performance in companies? Well, both! And here again, digitalization can be used to promote inclusion... Some HR portals offer e-learning modules to make employees aware of the importance of promoting diversity in their company. Similarly, employee forums can be used to boost communication on this type of subject.
Training revolutionized
Training is certainly the sector most impacted by digital. It allows it to experience a real revival and a completely democratized access. Far from classrooms or amphitheaters where lectures are given, learning is now increasingly done online. Where one might fear the isolation of the learner, the user-friendliness of the tools and their collaborative modes contribute to rehumanizing learning! Thus, the proliferation of tutorials, COOCs and other MOOCS allows HR to offer personalized, relevant, interactive and fun training opportunities to everyone, all the time...
To conclude, let's recognize that it is up to HR to make good use of the many tools available to them in order to make digitalization a cultural, not a technical revolution. These tools represent a means of instilling new visions in the company in terms of organization, strategy... And above all, philosophy!
