What Will Your People Priorities Be for 2025 ?
What Will Your People Priorities Be for 2025 ?
It ’ s a New Year and in the HR press all the talk over the last few weeks has been about the priorities for 2025 . Here ’ s my take on what is worth focusing on in 2025 , when it comes to your people .
1 . Employee Wellbeing : I follow a workplace culture expert called Bruce Daisley . A few weeks ago he shared an article about the importance of , “ breaking bread ” with your work colleagues . In an era where there is so much choice and noise about wellbeing initiatives , it struck me that the simple act of eating together can make a real difference . It ’ s not necessarily trendy and it doesn ’ t have to be expensive but pausing and taking time to share food together can be a relatively low-cost and easy way of connecting with staff .
2 . Upskilling and Reskilling : Not radical , I know – but the importance of assessing and checking in with teams to identify where skills gaps are as well as ways to bridge them , will be as critical as ever in keeping your business competitive . Upskilling doesn ’ t have to be expensive and it demonstrates to staff how you value their skills helping to drive engagement and retention .
3 . EDI ( Equality , Diversity and Inclusion ): I spent a lot less time in 2024 compared to 2023 , delivering EDI training . 2024 saw a lot of strong opinion in the media about so-called culture wars and ‘ wokeism .’ On top of that , many organisations were just surviving , rather than thriving , partly driven by lots of political change at home as well as geopolitics and macro economics abroad . When organisations batten down the hatches , investment in training and development is one of the first things to go . But that backdrop hasn ’ t lessened the number of issues out there . As I write this article towards the end of December , there is still fallout from the latest Greg Wallace utterings ! ** ahem , yes I am one of those middle-aged , middle-class women **
4 . Technology and Automation : If you didn ’ t read an article about AI at least once a week ( if not once a day ) during 2024 – where were you hiding ?!? In the world of HR the tech platforms seem to mushroom almost daily . Whilst it might be daunting , it is necessary to review technology options . One of my favourite bits of work in 2024 was asking clients about AI policies and providing them with a ‘ starterfor-10 ’ template which I encouraged them to use as a discussion piece within their teams . If nothing else it helps shine a light on who is using the technology and what for , hopefully providing some quick wins – as well as learnings from our mistakes .
5 . Tap into the support available : We are lucky in Hertfordshire , there are lots of business support programmes out there , some of them fully-funded , others very low cost . Why not see what ’ s available ? Here are some of the key contacts :
• Hertfordshire Futures – create growth programme
• HOP – skills bootcamps
• Hertfordshire Growth Hub
• Get Enterprising - delivered by Wenta and STANTA
Hold on to your hats – 2025 is going to be faster than ever ! I ’ d love to help you develop and deliver your people priorities for the year ahead , do get in touch if you ’ d like a chat .
Ruth George - HR Consultant ruth @ ruthgeorge . com ; 07899 920075 This is not legal advice and is provided for general information only . © Ruth George HR Consulting .
18 < Boxmoor Direct < January 2025 <