This document discusses 8 contemporary HR issues impacting the workplace: flexible labor, a multi-generational workforce, a diverse workforce, technology, workforce efficiency and ROI of labor, evidence-based HR, increasing job complexity, and COVID-19. For each issue, the document outlines some of the key HR implications such as changes to compensation and benefits, training, job design, and legal compliance. Overall, the document argues that the HR function must adapt to meet the challenges of a changing work environment as a result of these contemporary issues.

1. Contemporary HRM issues
8 HR burning HR issues that are impacting the workplace

2. Selected
Contemporary
Issues
Flexible Labor
Multi-generational workforce
Diverse workforce
 Technology
 Workforce Efficiency/ROI of Labor
 Evidence-Based HR
 Increasing Complexity of Jobs
 Impact of COVID-19

3. Flexible Labor
Alternatives to full-time, permanent
jobs are becoming more prevalent (e.g.
(e.g. contract work, gig economy, etc.)
Selected HR Implications
- Compensation/Benefits
- Training, Development
- Workforce Planning
- Performance Management
- Labor Relations

4. Multi-
Generational
Workforce
Greater age-range of workers; people
retiring later or semi-retiring.
Selected HR Implications
- Compensation/Benefits
- Training
- Job Design

5. Diverse
Workforce
The Canadian workforce is becoming
less male, white, able-bodied, etc.
Selected HR Implications
- Recruitment/Selection
- Training, Development
- Performance Management
- Legal Compliance

6. Technology
Technology is changing the way we
all work … including HR people
Selected HR Implications
- HR Information Systems
- Job Design
- Training
- Legal Compliance

7. Workforce
Efficiency/ROI
of Labor
Increasing pressures to get the best
return on an organization’s investment
in labor.
Selected HR Implications
- Job Design
- Training
- Labor Relations
- Compensation and Benefits
- Performance Management

8. Evidence-
Based HR
People-decisions should be based on
facts, not “gut feel.”
Selected HR Implications
- All areas of HR

9. Increasing
Complexity of
Jobs
Today’s jobs require more skills and
knowledge
Selected HR Implications
- Job Design
- Training and Development
- Recruitment/Selection

10. COVID 19
COVID 19 has radically changed the
way we work. Some of these changes
will persist beyond of the end of the
pandemic.
Selected HR Implications
- All HR Functions

11. The HR
function is
changing
An organization’s HR practices need to
adapt to meet the challenges of a
changing environment