How to Make the Future of Work Human-Centered

How to Make the Future of Work Human-Centered

Work is changing fast. Technology and automation are transforming jobs, and businesses need to adapt. By 2030, experts say that up to 30% of today’s jobs might be replaced by machines. Companies must prepare for this and focus more on their employees to keep up with these changes.

Why Putting People First Matters

To succeed in the future, businesses need to focus on their employees—the people who make everything happen. This isn’t just the job of the HR department. It’s something that should be part of the whole company’s strategy. Here are some ways businesses can prepare:

1. Focus on People: Companies should look at how jobs are changing and support their employees through those changes.
2. Plan for New Jobs: Businesses need to prepare for the jobs that automation will create and think about what skills their employees will need.
3. Update Old Workplace Ideas: Traditional workplace practices that limit employees’ growth, like rigid rules for learning and promotions, need to change.
4. Offer Meaningful Work: People want to feel like their work matters. Companies should create jobs that give employees a sense of purpose and align with their personal values.

When employees feel valued and respected, they are more likely to stay with a company. They will work harder and enjoy what they do. 

The 2019’s Annual International Employee Survey from WorkHuman, entitled ‘The Future Of Work Is Human’ supports this view, emphasizing the need to prioritize ‘humanity and emotional intelligence’ in the workplace. It also notes that, over and above perks such as free food or healthcare, today’s talent is seeking ‘meaningful work at organizations where they feel recognized and respected’.   

Moreover, employees who feel they are involved in ‘meaningful work’ are more likely to be engaged and four times more likely to ‘love their jobs’.  

From Employee Experience to Human Experience

In the past, companies focused on the “employee experience,” like offering free snacks or gym memberships. While those perks are nice, today’s workers want more—they want their work to feel meaningful and to know they’re making a difference.

This shift is called focusing on the human experience. It’s about connecting employees’ work to a bigger purpose and making sure their personal goals align with the company’s goals.

Education and Growth Are Key

Helping employees learn and grow is critical. To keep up with changing jobs and technologies, businesses need to offer personalized development plans. Everyone learns and grows differently, so it’s important to create plans that fit individual employees, not a “one size fits all” approach.

One way to do this is through career pathing. Here’s how it works:

1. Understand Job Skills: Build a list of skills and behaviors needed for every job in the company.
2. Learn About Employees’ Goals: Talk to employees about their career goals and where they want to grow.
3. Help Them Grow: Identify any skill gaps and offer training to help employees get better at their jobs and prepare for the future.

By doing this, businesses can help employees feel empowered and ready for changes in their jobs.

Why It’s Worth It

When companies focus on their people, they create workplaces where employees are engaged, happy, and productive. This leads to a stronger company with better results. Starting with career pathing is a great way to help employees succeed and create a brighter future for everyone.

Stepping into career pathing

As the focus on the human experience grows, placing your people at the heart of your corporate strategy creates a workplace where engaged employees can thrive, resulting in a high performance culture.  

By focusing on skills development, individual career aspirations and employee preferences, career pathing is the starting point for success.  

View these resources to learn more about career pathing:

Watch the webinar: Improving Internal Career Mobility By Humanizing The Employee Experience

Read the white paper: Career Pathing as a Talent Imperative

Ready to Make the Future of Work Human-Centered? Request a demo!