Tag: Future of work

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HM Digest

Tips to Stay Ahead in 2025 

By Olakunle Yusuff

As we approach the end of the year, it is common practice for individuals and organisations to reflect on the journey so far and set their sights on the opportunities ahead. Organisations usually plan strategies that maximise employee potential and align individual contributions with broader goals, while individuals redefine their goals and position themselves as indispensable assets in their workplace. 

Whether you’re an employer or an employee, 2025 presents a fresh canvas to stand out and make a lasting impact. To do this, you must focus on the following: 

  1. Embrace Lifelong Learning 

Continuously upskill to stay relevant in your field by learning digital skills such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), data analytics, and automation tools and soft skills like emotional intelligence, adaptability, and collaboration.  

Take advantage of online learning platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, or company training programs. Also, volunteer to be a part of impromptu projects within the organisation. This allows you to work with that person that you admire their skills.  

  1. Prioritise Adaptability 

No doubt, the pace of change in technology and business models will accelerate. Therefore, be open to learning and adopting new tools, workflows, and roles. You must show flexibility in taking on cross-functional tasks or projects. Be on top of the changes that are going on in your industry and share what you know with others. 

  1. Leverage Technology 

Master tools that enhance productivity, collaboration, and innovation. Automation is now the order of the day, which automation tools are you learning and mastering in 2025? What automation tool is available to make your current job role easier and ultimately more enjoyable? Find it, learn it, master it. 

  1. Focus on Impact 

Identify ways your role contributes to organisational success and align your work with the company’s goals and measurable outcomes. Also, regularly report and celebrate milestones achieved.  

5. Cultivate a Personal Brand 

This is one that many do or have not given a thought. A strong professional identity sets you apart. Build an online presence on LinkedIn or industry-specific platforms. Join industry-specific groups, participate in discussions, ask relevant questions and share thought leadership content, such as articles, tips, or case studies. 

6. Foster Strong Relationships 

Network within and outside your organisation. The easiest way to start this is by seeking and offering mentorship to others. Attending virtual and in-person industry and social events to expand your connections to get in the mix of what’s going on. If you can afford it, join a social club; while it is good for business, it also might be good for your well-being. 

7. Prioritize Wellness  

Incorporate wellness practices to stay productive and maintain mental health. Pay attention to what you eat and drink, set boundaries for work hours, participate in wellness programs and adopt mindfulness techniques. Now is the time to have your physician on the speed dial, especially if you are over 40. 

8. Be Proactive and Innovative 

Take the initiative to solve problems and improve processes. regularly suggest ideas for efficiency or innovation. Stay informed about trends and propose how they can benefit your team. 

9. Develop Leadership Skills 

Employers value employees who can lead projects and inspire teams. Again, volunteer for leadership opportunities in projects. Take courses in conflict resolution, team management, and strategic thinking. These are soft skills that you would find helpful even outside of the workplace. 

By focusing on these areas, you will thrive in your role and position yourself as an asset in a rapidly evolving workplace. Which of these strategies would you like to explore? You do not have to do all the above at once; it is a process that you should enjoy as you strive to be and do better in 2025.

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Innovation

Guide to Payroll Management for Global Teams 

By Aisosa Ajayi

In today’s globalized world, businesses often extend their reach beyond national borders, establishing global teams. Managing payroll across different countries poses unique challenges. Here are five essential strategies for Human resources, compensations, or total reward professionals to manage global payroll effectively, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. 

  1. Navigate Local Employment Laws 

Complying with local employment laws is crucial for global payroll management. Each country has unique tax system, employee rights, compensation standards, and mandatory benefits. Familiarize yourself with local payroll laws, including tax obligations, social security contributions, and labour requirements. Engage local payroll providers, tax consultants, or legal advisors to avoid legal issues and penalties. 

  1. Choose and Integrate Payroll Solutions 

Selecting the right payroll system is vital for efficiency and compliance. Use cloud-based software for multi-country payroll processing, offering automated tax calculations and custom currency conversions. Ensure integration with existing HR systems to streamline processes, reduce errors, and enhance reporting capabilities. 

  1. Establish Clear Communication and Policies 

Effective communication and transparent payroll policies are essential. Develop clear, accessible policies outlining payment schedules, benefits, and tax implications. Conduct regular check-ins with employees to address payroll-related questions and gather feedback for continuous improvement. This ensures everyone is informed and issues are promptly resolved. 

  1. Manage Currency and Exchange Rates 

Handling payments in different currencies and managing exchange rate fluctuations is critical for fair compensation. Pay employees in their local currency to avoid exchange rate issues. Regularly monitor exchange rates when local currency payments cannot maintain equitable pay standards.  

  1. Ensure Data Security and Privacy 

Protecting payroll data and complying with regulations like GDPR is paramount. Implement strong security protocols, such as encrypted data storage and secure access systems, to safeguard sensitive information. Train payroll teams on data privacy practices to ensure responsible handling of employee information and compliance with international standards. 

By focusing on these strategies, Total Reward professionals can effectively manage the complexities of global payroll, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. Embrace these practices to enhance overall employee satisfaction and strengthen human resource management. 

“Selecting the right payroll system is vital for efficiency and compliance”

About the Author

Aisosa Ajayi coordinates communications and experiential marketing at HumanManager, where he is responsible for curating and managing messaging, developing content, and staying attuned to industry trends in human resources management.

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Managing Teams

Tips For Building Your Team’s Psychological Safety  

By Helen Akhidenor 

Psychological safety is the shared expectation among employees that they will not be embarrassed, rejected, or punished for sharing ideas, taking risks, and seeking feedback. It does not mean that everyone is nice to each other all the time. Instead, it encourages open dialogue, honest feedback, and constructive conflict resolution, ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard. 

Psychological safety directly impacts an organisation’s bottom line. It is, however, harder to build psychological safety in a hybrid or remote work environment because interactions are primarily virtual. These then present unique opportunities for leaders to forge connections through intentional and authentic communication. 

Read on to discover tips to build your team’s psychological safety: 

  1. Prioritise Learning Over Execution  

When projects fall short, pause to analyse the situation rather than rushing to fix it. See setbacks as valuable learning opportunities that can fuel team discussions and collective problem-solving. This approach fosters an open dialogue devoid of shame, empowering team members to speak candidly about challenges. 

  1. Encourage Experimentation  

Innovation thrives on the willingness to explore new ideas. Promote a culture where taking risks is welcomed and define success in terms of hypothesis testing rather than certainties. This mindset not only encourages creative thinking but also reduces the fear associated with failure, making team members more likely to share bold ideas. 

  1. Foster Curiosity 

As a leader, demonstrate curiosity by asking questions that challenge the status quo. This behaviour not only initiates meaningful conversations but also establishes an environment where vulnerability is accepted. When leaders show that they too have room to grow, it encourages team members to embrace their learning journeys. 

  1. Own Your Mistakes 

Acknowledging your fallibility is essential for promoting psychological safety. By transparently discussing your errors and taking ownership, you set an example for your team. This openness cultivates an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable admitting their mistakes and learning from them collectively. 

  1. Nurture Team Values 

Clear values and norms are integral to maintaining psychological safety within the team. Create a shared mission statement that outlines the principles your team should follow. Regularly revisit these values to ensure they resonate with evolving team dynamics and encourage accountability to uphold them. 

Building a psychologically safe team is a continuous journey that requires commitment and effort from leaders. By implementing these practical tips, you can create an environment where team members feel empowered to express themselves, take risks, and contribute to the organization’s success.  

Remember, fostering psychological safety not only enhances team dynamics but also drives innovation and performance, ultimately leading to a thriving workplace culture. Embrace the challenge and watch your team flourish. 

Equip HR and managers with tools to engage, recognize, and drive performance. Explore HumanManager 

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Managing Teams

Key training needs for remote teams 

By Akin Omojola

Once a benefit for only a select few, remote work is now an integral part of our professional fabric. Since the pandemic in 2020, about 49 percent of sub-Saharan African enterprises have retained a remote work culture in one form or another. This transformation ushers in training and learning needs that traditional office settings often do not require.  

Managing a remote team comes with its challenges, including ensuring that team members have the necessary soft and technical skills to thrive in a virtual environment. To achieve success in remote teams, you must identify, and address employee learning needs as stated below: 

  1. Effective Communication 

Remote teams convey their ideas and feedback via written and verbal communication. As such, team members should be coached on effective communication, email etiquette, project management/messaging platforms, and virtual meeting tools to avoid misinformation. 

Remote team members can empower themselves with courses on e-learning platforms or workshops focused on effective communication in a virtual environment. Beyond teams, organisations must also communicate clearly with all employees through regular news feeds, intranet chat lines, and online townhall sessions. 

  1. Time Management 

Remote work offers flexibility in terms of when and where team members work, but it also requires significant levels of self-discipline and time management skills. Team members must be able to prioritise tasks, set deadlines, and manage their time effectively to meet project goals and deadlines. 

To enhance time management skills, remote teams can utilise project management tools and calendars to organise their workload and track progress.  

Another key issue is meeting management. Organisations should adopt a single application for virtual meetings to avoid clashes and stick to meeting schedules as a corporate culture. 

  1. Technology Know-how 

Remote teams rely heavily on technology to communicate, collaborate, and complete tasks. As such, remote team members should be proficient in using a variety of digital tools and platforms to work effectively in a virtual setting. This includes familiarity with video conferencing software, project management tools, filesharing platforms, and other technology solutions that facilitate remote work. 

  1. Security 

Remote work comes with data security risks. New and modern frameworks should be adopted, and all employees should be aware that data security is their joint responsibility. Network hardening should be implemented since staff work from different local uncontrolled environments. Data loss protection (DLP) policies and technologies may be employed in addition to employee training. 

  1. Team Building 

Remote team members should build strong relationships, establish trust, communicate openly, and work effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and locations. This can be done through regular meetings or check-ins to maintain connections and build rapport with colleagues, as well as virtual team-building activities like online games, group discussions, or collaborative projects.  

Team leads and human resources managers are also responsible for tracking engagement and mental stress among employees. Full remote organisations could sponsor physical hangouts periodically to foster a better corporate identity. 

Lastly, remote teams have unique learning needs that must be addressed to ensure their success in a virtual work environment. By investing in training and development opportunities/Platforms for remote teams, you can empower your employees to work effectively and collaboratively, regardless of their physical location.

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HM Digest

HumanManager’s Adekunbi Ademiluyi shares insights into closing the gaps and advancing inclusion for African women 

In a recent interview, our Managing Director, Adekunbi Ademiluyi, discussed the challenges faced by African women in leadership, education, and their overall experiences. Despite some progress, African women still encounter some obstacles hindering their growth.  

Adekunbi emphasised the gender disparity in leadership roles across Africa, attributing it to cultural practices, gender stereotypes, and limited legal protection. To address this, efforts must focus on challenging these practices, promoting equality, and empowering women for leadership roles. 

Education accessibility is a fundamental right, yet girls and women in Africa face obstacles due to insecurity, traditional beliefs, and limited resources, especially in regions like Northern Nigeria.  

Overcoming these issues requires investing in educational infrastructure, providing scholarships, and challenging norms inhibiting girls’ education. Equal education access empowers African women to contribute significantly to their communities and nations. 

Furthermore, Adekunbi highlighted the gender pay gap, where women, including self-employed individuals, earn 34% less than men. Policies and legislation promoting equal pay are crucial in addressing this disparity. Awareness and education about the gender pay gap are also essential, along with fostering workplace cultures that value equality. 

Adekunbi also addressed gender-based violence, stressing the need for regulation and inclusion of women in financial services. Central Banks in Africa have begun initiatives like agency banking to include more women. Expanding these efforts and creating safe environments can empower African women to overcome challenges. 

Overall, concerted efforts are needed to empower African women. By challenging cultural norms, promoting equality, investing in education, addressing the pay gap, and combating gender-based violence, African women can reach their full potential. Collaboration between governments, organisations, and individuals is crucial to create an equitable society where African women thrive and contribute to development.  

Watch the full interview on News Central TV Here  

Adekunbi Ademiluyi is the first female Managing Director of HumanManager, and also an Executive Director of SystemSpecs Group. Her expertise spans over two decades in Financial and Information Technology, Banking, Human Resources Management and Data Management. Follow HumanManager on Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook and X 

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HM Digest

Unleash Your Employees’ Potential with HumanManager’s Comprehensive Learning Module 

By Stephen Adewumi

In a world driven by constant evolution, staying ahead requires continuous learning and adaptability. HumanManager proudly unveils its latest offering – the Learning module, a robust platform designed to empower your staff and propel them towards their full potential.  

Gone are the days of traditional training methods. Today, a sophisticated LMS is imperative for staying competitive. A well-structured learning management system serves as the backbone for efficient training, ensuring that employees are equipped with the skills needed to navigate the rapidly changing business environment.  

With our Learning module, we have set new standards that fit current business needs for tailored and impactful learning experiences. 

What makes our LMS unique? 

Our LMS’ vast content library offers a comprehensive pool of courses tailored to specific needs and goals, which you can access on the go. Aside from learning through this platform, employees can become content creators, fostering internal expertise and crafting custom learning materials.  

Effortless management and delivery are at the core of HumanManager Learning. With smooth scheduling and top-notch support, organising training sessions becomes easy-peasy. You also get to stay compliant with organisational guidelines – thanks to detailed reports and valuable insights that inform training strategies and track progress effectively. 

The interactive and engaging learning experience is taken to new heights with features like virtual classrooms, multimedia support, and online assessments. These elements foster active participation, collaboration, and knowledge retention, ensuring that the learning journey is not only informative but enjoyable. 

HumanManager Learning goes beyond being just an LMS. It is key to unlocking the full potential of your staff and propelling your organisation towards a future of continuous success and innovation. 

Email: support@humanmanger.net or call +2342016348922 to learn more about HumanManager Learning Module.  

Categories
Innovation

Workplace Trends you should Look Forward to in 2022

The global post-COVID landscape has utterly changed many businesses. From the new normal to conversations around prioritising employee’s mental health, providing relevant perks, the great resignation, enhanced technology tools for staff and customers, and many more, the modern workplace — now more innovative and evolving — will never remain the same!

Suffice to say that 2022 will see a lot of these supposedly temporary adaptations becoming part of the norm. Could this be good news? Yes, I think.

Here are some workplace trends in 2022 and what they might mean for you:

1. Hybrid & Remote-work-first model

2021 did not only prove that employees could be trusted to work remotely, it showed that majority of workers might want to hold on to that model. Just as the number of remote-first companies have multiplied, even more are opting for a hybrid work system.

This implies that hybrid and remote work are here to stay, but the question now is: “How many days should employees work from the office or at home? Dynamic businesses and human resource managers are open to negotiate with their staff on how to work, instead of imposing a straight jacket option for all.

2. Workers having more than one job

Remote work has helped employees save work travel time, which in turn became an opportunity to get extra jobs either owned by the employee or another company. This has inherently widened the talent marketplace as individuals can work beyond their borders, and in different time zones.

As they multitask and split their time appropriately between employers, individuals have a duty to ensure that having more than one job doesn’t have an impact on their ability to perform well in each role.

3. The Great Resignation

One of the post-COVID effects is that employees had time to review their growth process and decide if they want to switch career or continue in their chosen path. This led to the ‘Great Resignation’ and increased competition in the marketplace.

The Great Resignation is empowering workers as more people switch careers and make bold career decisions. The result is that employers now offer better working conditions and incentives to maintain and keep performing staff. The rise of the four-day work week in some companies is proof of this.

4. Improved employee welfare management

Office perks, unlike before, are no longer essentially linked to the buildings in which work is done. So, if you are aiming for happier employees in 2022, there needs to be a mindset shift when it comes to benefits. This could be in terms of flexible work hours or days, competitive salaries, recognition of highly performing staff, contribution to household bills especially when a company cuts down on office work days, wellbeing and mental health benefits or support at work!

5. Skills over roles

There is a big change in how work is assessed as more business managers are now concerned with what potential staff can do, not just what they have done. Skills are germane to drive organisation’s competitive edge and the workflow that makes that happen.

Employees therefore need to develop critical skills that potentially open up multiple opportunities for their career advancement, rather than preparing for a specific type of role they desire.

If you’re preparing for a major career change, you should carry out some research to find out which skills are most important to your future career.

6. Technology growth in the workplace

There is also an increasing technology adoption by businesses and for their customers. For instance, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics are creating more jobs and helping businesses scale up comfortably and efficiently. These jobs include web development, UI/UX design, UX writing for chatbots, and more.

The insights above are some of the major features of the modern workplace emerging.

What is your business doing differently to key into these changes? How are you as an individual leveraging these changes for your career advancement? Are there more workplace disruptions to look forward to?

Kindly share your thoughts in the comment section.