the foHRsight podcast: The Future of HR: Key Trends and Transformations from 2024

In episode 102 of the foHRsight Podcast, hosts Mark and Naomi shared their reflections on 2024's transformative HR trends. As we settle into 2025, their end-of-year discussion reveals how the HR landscape has evolved and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. Let's dive into their analysis of the key developments shaping our industry

Mark's Top Three Trends:

The Cost-of-Living Crisis and Employee Wellbeing

According to Mark, 2024 saw organizations placing unprecedented emphasis on understanding and responding to employees' financial wellbeing. "We've seen people walking down the street for an extra couple of dollars," he noted, highlighting how organizations like Wajax had to rethink their total rewards packages. This shift prompted HR leaders to take a more holistic approach to wellbeing, moving beyond traditional benefits to consider the full spectrum of employee needs.

The AI Evolution in HR

A striking statistic from Mercer: AI adoption in HR jumped from 60% in 2023 to 84% in 2024. However, Mark observed an interesting paradox - while excitement and investment in AI are high, many organizations still face an "organizational lag" in implementation. "There's so much activity, so much investment in new platforms," he reflected, "but in terms of actually impacting people's day-to-day work beyond playing around with Copilot, it's kind of not really happening yet."

Workplace Politicization

The third trend Mark identified was the increasing politicization of workplace discussions. He shared a personal experience where a seemingly innocent employee announcement created unexpected controversy due to mentioning an external figure. This highlighted the delicate balance HR leaders must maintain in an increasingly polarized world.

Naomi's Top Three Trends:

The DEI Pendulum Swing

Naomi provided thoughts about how DEI initiatives are evolving. She referenced significant changes at major companies like John Deere and Microsoft, noting how organizations are reconsidering their approach to diversity and inclusion. "It's become a really hot button acronym," she observed, suggesting that HR needs to "redefine what we mean by DEI" and focus more on creating genuinely inclusive cultures than on terminology.

 The Hybrid Work Debate

The podcast discussion turned to the ongoing evolution of workplace flexibility. Naomi challenged the simplistic "return to office" narratives, emphasizing that hybrid work should be treated as a strategy rather than just a policy. She particularly critiqued the focus on office days, noting, "It's not about the five days or four days or three days... you've got to treat it like a strategy." Her insights highlighted the importance of infrastructure and people-focused solutions rather than rigid mandates.

HR's Continuing Evolution

The third trend Naomi identified was the ongoing transformation of the HR function itself. She addressed the challenges of being "tasked with lots and lots of stuff" while being "asked to do more with less." This led to an important discussion about leveraging AI effectively and the need to demonstrate HR's strategic value to organizations.

Looking Ahead: Shared Perspectives on 2025

Both hosts emphasized that these trends won't simply reset with the new year. They highlighted several key areas requiring continued attention:

Building Leadership Capability

Mark shared research indicating that developing leadership capability remains a top priority for organizations. This includes helping leaders navigate increasingly complex environments while maintaining authentic connections with their teams.

Employee Experience Evolution

The podcast discussion emphasized how employee experience has moved beyond "motherhood and apple pie" to become a strategic imperative. Both hosts stressed the importance of data-driven insights in shaping meaningful employee experiences.

Trust and Community Building

Naomi introduced an emerging focus on trust within organizations, connecting it to broader societal trends. She emphasized the growing importance of building strong HR communities, noting that "HR needs community more than ever."

Looking FoHRward

The episode concluded with both hosts sharing their hopes for 2025. Naomi expressed a desire for "the pendulum to settle" and for more productive dialogue in organizations. Mark echoed this sentiment, referencing Adam Grant's work on "disagreeing agreeably" and emphasizing HR's role in facilitating balanced, respectful workplace discussions.

As we move through 2025, the insights from this foHRsight episode remind us that while challenges persist, opportunities for positive transformation abound. The key lies in maintaining what Mark called "a level of hope and optimism for the future" while taking practical steps to address these evolving challenges.