Rebecca Morris
The 2022 HR Technology Conference & Expo in Las Vegas ran from September 13 to 16, 2022. Everyone was out in full force, leaving worries of COVID-19 behind and resulting in an almost pre-pandemic level of participation. As always, there was a session-packed agenda with industry thought leaders and distinguished HR professionals helping to shape the future of HR. Here is a rundown of some of the highlights.
Women in HR Technology Summit
Day one kicked off with the Women in HR Tech Summit. Working mothers and caretakers shouldering a large share of household responsibilities throughout the pandemic and more female workers serving in hard-hit sectors, has left women stressed and underrepresented in the workforce. Companies are scrambling for talent; yet many haven’t considered how their compensation and benefits packages might not align with what women expect from their employers. In the session, Making Total Rewards Relevant for Women, Erin Spencer, Senior Research Analyst at Deloitte, Mary Faulkner, Principal at IA, and Kim Seals, Senior Partner at West Monroe talked about how access to affordable child care, flexible working hours, infertility benefits and equitable pay can help close the gender gap. They also highlighted the intersection of financial wellness and physical well-being especially in the current environment; and how engaging employees is not only HR’s job- people managers need to step up.
Cynthia Marshall on leading with heart
In the opening keynote, Cynthia Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, shared how she transformed the culture of the Mavericks organization, creating the right climate for employees to share their opinions and ensure every voice is heard. As the NBA’s first Black female CEO, her vision has become the gold standard for diversity and inclusion, and her insights remind HR leaders to think of “the person first and employee second.” Cynthia’s session was so engaging - she had everyone in the audience dancing, mixing and mingling, and truly connecting at a personal level. HR Tech attendees received a copy of her book, You’ve Been Chosen, in which she talks about the importance of being there for others when they’re experiencing adversity.
Josh Bersin shared the new truths of HR tech for 2023
In his keynote address, research analyst Josh Bersin shared What’s Hot in the HR Tech Market for 2023. Of note, is the evolution of HR tech to “work tech”. Work tech addresses employee well-being, recognition, lifestyle, health and more, but is less about the technology itself and more about what the technology enables employees and their families to achieve. He also talked about the emergence of talent intelligence, which is focused on integrating insights about workers – their skills, capabilities, experiences, career goals, performance, demographics, and learning needs - and using that information to enable HR teams to make better informed decisions. In essence, a talent intelligence platform is the backbone of a strong talent management strategy that aligns business goals with employee skill sets and needs.
Sapient survey reveals what’s top of mind in HR Tech
Stacey Harris, Chief Research Officer and Managing Partner at Sapient Insights Group, debuted findings from Sapient’s 25th Annual HR Systems Survey. Her session highlighted what’s top of mind in HR tech for businesses of all sizes. Some key insights include:
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54% of companies with over 500 employees are increasing their technology spend by an average of 21%
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Across businesses of all sizes, recruiting tops the charts for HR technology spending
- Data is key - 40% of HR tech buyers are looking for better reporting functionality - an increase of 30% from last year
BrightPlan at HR Tech
BrightPlan was at HR Tech in full force. It was fun meeting all the HR leaders who visited us. Our booth was abuzz with demos, friendly games of pong, and exciting giveaways, including drawings for a Theragun massager.
On day two of the conference, our leadership team hosted an after-hours event at RiRa Irish Bar. Attendees had a great time networking and learning how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness.
Employee experience, well-being, and talent intelligence took the spotlight
Employee experience, holistic well-being and talent intelligence are particularly salient right now. Employees want to feel cared for, that they belong and are valued at work, and that their employer understands their needs, both personally and professionally. Solutions that address the physical, mental, social, career, and financial well-being of diverse employee groups are central to that equation.
