The Human Element.

As regular readers of the #hrtechtalk blog will know, an increasing number of HR leaders will take the leap and invest in HR & Workplace technology this year. 👏

HR is stepping up it's game and set to take advantage of a raft of new functionality that cloud HR platforms can offer to drive increased efficiency and agility across HR service delivery.

On the surface, it might seem like there's never been a better time to take the leap into digital HR, with employee appetite for greater choice and flexibility feeding demand for tools that can help facilitate the "work from anywhere" experience.

But as companies look to leverage #hrtechnology to attract and retain talent, is enough emphasis being placed on the human element of our experience with the technology we come in to contact with in the workplace?

In the last 12 months, tech platforms have played a pivotal role in helping teams work remotely and stay productive. But they are also proving to be a key contributor when it comes to employee wellbeing.

In an era where there seems to be an app for just about every problem imaginable, how much technology is too much?... and in some cases, has technology actually created new, unintentional problems of it's own?

Evidence suggests we are spending a record amount of hours on our devices already

Each year, industry watchdog, Ofcom, publish a report of the nations' media habits. Last year’s “online nation report” revealed the average UK adult now spends an incredible six hours and 25 minutes on their phones, TVs and laptops each day, resulting in 45 hours of screen time each week. 45 hours!!!?

The CIPD's Health and Wellbeing at Work report highlights some of the negative effects advances in technology are having on employee wellbeing at work, with 86% of respondents citing an inability to "switch off" as a key problem area.

Going forward, as we become increasingly tethered to work through our devices and cloud platforms, helping employee's create boundaries between "on" and "off" is now essential to preserving employee wellbeing.

Future outlook - "Quick wins" or sustainable human experience?

Historically, HR technology investment and subsequent implementations have attracted buyers looking to execute quick wins, by introducing new features (AI capability, nudges, reminder's etc.) aimed at helping to improve productivity and performance. But in the wrong context, these features can also inadvertently disrupt flow and cause stress.

I do wonder if the desire for snapping up the latest product features has detracted focus away from designing technology workflows and experiences that nurture cognitive flow rather than interrupt it?

Investing in the right tools is essential, but investing more time and resources in genuinely understanding and empathising with how employee's feel at critical touchpoints will help create a more sustainable pathway to technology adoption and indeed a happier, more balanced relationship between technology and wellbeing in the workplace...