Discussion:
Q: In what ways has Human Resources management responded to changes in the environment?
Here the two topic from my two students :
The first one is
Jackson and Mathis report that due to the economic shifts in the world economy, many employers have completely changed their operations. Some have expanded and some have moved operations overseas. Setting up operations overseas requires that HR personnel meet many new challenges including different cultural expectations, customs, values and work standards, besides meeting different legal requirements. Within the U.S., HR professionals have had to meet the challenges of layoffs, changed working hours and cuts in benefits. Some of the biggest challenges to meet are adjusting benefits because of increased costs; how to attract and retain employees; the aging baby boomers and what to do after they retire; developing the talent and skills of current and future employees (Jackson and Mathis, p .3).
Companies are also using more and more contingent workers who are hired on a temporary basis or just work part time. This changes the way people are paid and the benefits they receive. Another important factor is information technology. With this people are able to work at home and be organized through their digital devices.
The demographics of the workplace have changed with people aging and much more cultural diversity. This causes a need for more training and more challenges to HR to make sure that everyone is treated fairly with no discrimination.
The second one is :
Global trade and globalization has made conducting business in foreign locations not only much more easy, but sometimes a way to be competitive. The global economy has taken some hard hits in the last six years or so, showing how really connected economies are all over the world. Global businesses have reorganized and shifted operations in ways that have had a major impact on HRM professionals. They sometimes have to manage HR functions in a foreign land with a diverse workforce. Headquarters might be in America and operations overseas.
With the recent financial crisis and even for the last few decades, some industries have been downsized and changed. America is no longer a manufacturing/industrial economy, but more of a financial industry/services high-tech economy. There have been shutdowns and layoffs and changes in the way people are hired, trained and paid. HR has had to work with changed benefits and types of jobs filled.
When demographics go through major new trends, HR has to follow. For example, America has a large group of workers who will be retiring in the near future. Companies will need to hire many new younger workers. Will there be enough? And will they have the right training?
There is much more diversity in the workplace than ever before. 47% of workers are women, many who have children. More flexibility in jobs is being offered so workers can balance family and home. There are many more workers from other cultures in the American workplace. Anti-discrimination policies must be developed and employees need more training in how to value cultural diversity at work.
Technology has changed the workplace and how people work. Many people now work through online technologies. Some even work from home even when they are hired by a company.