人力资源的未来：谁来关心职场中的人？+The+Future+of+Human+Resources：Who+Will+Care+for+the+Human+at+Work

Thefutureofhuman

resources:Whowill

careforthehuman

atwork?

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?1

Artificialintelligence(AI)isabouttochangeeverything.Howwelive,howweplay—andmostcertainly—howwework.Wearealready

feelingtheseismictremorsof

theFifthIndustrialRevolution

,andalmostnooneknowshow

exactlyitwillalterthelandscape

ofwork.Drivenbycognitive

technologieslikeAI,wearealreadyseeingimpactsontheday-to-daylivesofemployeesandourroles

asHRleaders.Itwillnotbelong

beforethoserumblesbecome

tectonicshiftsandweareinfree-

fall.Noonewillbesparedasweareallvaultedintothefuturetogether.

Thissortofrapidinfluxoftechnologicalchangeisnotentirelyunprecedentedinhumanhistory.We’vebeenherebefore—sortof.We’velivedthrough

fourindustrialrevolutions.Infact,wewereonlypartofthewaythroughthelastonewhenAIacceleratedusintothenextone.Butinalotofways,wearein

unprecedentedtimes.Whatusedtotakecenturieshasspedtodecadesandyears—evenmonths.Thisacceleratedpaceofchangedemandsanequally

swiftevolutioninhowwemanagethatchange—howweourselvesevolveinthewaysinwhichwelive,playandwork.

Acriticalquestionhasemerged:

Whowillleadusthroughthiseraoftransformation?Or,moreprecisely:Whowillensurethatweemergefromthistimeinabetterplacethanwe

werebefore?

Becausemostofusspendhalfour

wakinghours(ormore)atwork,the

workplacehasbecometheepicenterofthatquestion.Inasimilarwayto

managingthedisruptionsoftheglobalpandemic,peoplewanttoknow:Whounderstandsandcanhelpmanagetheimpactofthischangeonourlivesat

work—especiallywhenworktendstoimpactourlivesoverall?

Whoarethe

heroesweneed

totakeupthis

gauntlet?The

answer,HR,isyou.

Resources:willfor

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?3

AI’sjumptolightspeed

Aswitheveryotherindustrial

revolution,thecomingchanges

arenotoptional.AIhasthe

potentialtoenhanceourlivesor

devastatethem

,andpeopleneedemployersandorganizations

tohelpnavigateitinawaythat

providesanetbenefittohumanity.

Inthepast,peoplehavelookedtogovernmentsfortheseanswers.Certainly,mostgovernmentsarescramblingtorespondtoAI.Buttherapid

velocityofthischangemeansitwillbesometimebeforeeventhemostproactivegovernmentscanadequatelyrespondtothechanges.

Peoplearenolongerlookingonlytogovernmentforguidanceandreassurance.Accordingtothe

EdelmanTrustBarometer,

governmentisnolongerthemosttrustedinstitutioninsocietytoday.Peoplenowlooktotheiremployersastheirmosttrustedinstitution—expectingbusinessestointerveneinsocialissuesandactforthegreatergood.

The

2024GlobalTalentTrends

reportfoundthatwhiletrusthasdeclinedsignificantlyto69%,

afterpeakingat78-80%duringthepandemic,todayemployeesoverwhelminglybelievetheiremployerswilldotherightthingforboththemandsociety.Asthelinkbetweenorganizationsandtheirhumans,HRmust

leveragethistrust

toguidebothorganizationsandsocietywiselythroughthesechanges.

Thestakesarehigh.AstheWorldEconomic

Forum’s2024

GlobalRisksReport

hashighlighted:environmentalcrises,societalpolarization,concernabouttechnology,economicstrains,geopolitical

tensionsandtechnologicalrisksareallpressing

concerns.Andit’snotgettingbetter,notestheWEF,whowrote:“The2023-2024GlobalRisksPerceptionSurveyresultshighlightapredominantlynegativeoutlookfortheworldoverthenexttwoyearsthatisexpectedtoworsenoverthenextdecade.”

Thenextdecadewillchallengeouradaptivecapacitylikeneverbefore;HRprofessionalsmustleadthe

chargeintransforminghowworkisconceptualized,organizedandexperienced,ensuringthat

technologyserveshumanity,nottheotherway

around.HRisbestpositionedtoensurethatAI

improvesworklifewithoutsacrificinghumandignityandwell-being.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?4

Puttingpeoplefirst

Tothriveinthisageofchange,HRneedstoevolvebeyonditsoriginasastewardofemployment—taskedwith

harnessingindividualandcollectivehumanperformancetomeetorganizationalneeds.ThislegacyHRrolelargelyinvolvedafocusonensuringthe‘silentrunning’ofthe

enterprise;thattherightpeoplewiththerightskillswerealwaysavailableattherighttimeandprice.

Thisoftenledtoone-size-fits-mosttalentandworkforce

solutionsthatwerebuiltforefficiency.Now,asAIand

thedemocratizationofworkexponentiallyincreasethevelocityandvariabilityofwork,HRhavebeguntoevolveintostewardsofwork.Inthisnewrole,theyarebendingthedemandandsupplycurvesofworkinfundamentallydifferentways;enablingtalenttoconnecttoworkmoreseamlesslyandmeetingtalentontheirownterms.

Next,HRmustmakethejumptolightspeedandprepareforanimmediatenewrole,andperhapstheirmost

consequentialyet:Stewardsofhumanity.Thatmeanschampioningourhumanityatworktomakesurethatthehumanisalwaysanequal,ormoreimportant,

considerationinthefutureofhuman-machineteaming.WithHRatthehelm,organizationscandeliveronthepromiseofproductivityfromAIandalsobuildamorehumanworkexperiencethatplacespeopleattheheartoftransformation.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?5

WelcometotheFifthIndustrialRevolution

Industrialrevolutionshavereshapedhowweworkineachofthepastfewcenturies,andtheresultshavehaddramaticrepercussionsonbothhowweworkandlive.Butwhatusedtobeaglacialeventissuddenlyacceleratingmuchfaster—asAIpushesusforward.

HR’schangingrolethroughthehistoryofindustrialrevolutions

1760-18701870-19471947-19831983-20242024-????

IconicinventionRevolution

MassproductionAutomation

Connectivity

Mechanization

Cognitive

Steamengine

Revolutionized

production,shiftinglaborfromhand

toolstomachines.

Electricityandassemblylines

Theeraofbig

factories,mass

productionand

massconsumption.

ElectronicsandIT

Theeraof

automation,

andthebeginningofrobotics

transformingjobroles.

Internetandsmartphone

Theinformationage

connectspeopleandinformation,globalizingbothcommerceand

workforces.

AI

LLMsand

generativeAI

fundamentallyalterhowinformation

isprocessedand

decisionsaremadeandhowquickly

outputisgenerated.

HRrole

HRisanemergingfieldasworkis

democratizedandmechanized,givingrisetoanewfocusonworkersafety

andemployeerights.

Stewardof

employment–HRbecomesaformalizedroletaskedwiththe

‘silentrunning’of

theenterprisewithenoughpeople

withtheright

skillsavailableat

therighttimeandcost.Processes

aroundrecruitment,training,employeerelationsand

benefitsaredefinedandborn.

Stewardof

employment–

HR’sworkexpandstoincludetalent

managementandorganizational

development.

HRnowhasto

understandhowworkisevolving,partneringwith

businessleaderstoalignhumanandtechnologicalresources.

EmergingHRtechbeginstotransform

howtalentis

recruited,trainedandretained.

Stewardof

work–HR’sremitexpandstoincludeworkdesignasAI,automationand

gigtalentbecomecriticalwork

options.Advancingdigitaltechnologiesmaketheemployeeexperienceeven

morecritical.

Upskillingand

reskillingstrategiesgrowinimportanceasthehalf-life

ofskillsbegintoshrink.

Stewardof

humanity–AsAI’scapabilitiesincreaseexponentiallyHR’sroleexpandsto

includestewardshipofethicalAI.

Thecontinued

transformationof

workandultimately

thehuman-

machineteamingrelationshipto

ensurethatboththeorganizationandthehuman

workforcebenefitfrominnovative

technologiesandpractices.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?6

Theshrinkingtimeframesbetweenindustrial

revolutionsabovemaybescary,buttheyholdtrue.WhenChatGPTwasintroducedinNovemberof

2022,itmarkedthebeginningoftheendoftheconnectivityera.Thelaunchoflargelanguage

models(LLM)openedthedoortoanewindustrialrevolution:TheCognitiveAge.

Aswestepthroughthatdoor,whereAIintegratesdeeplyintodailyoperations,thepaceofchangehasalreadyacceleratedexponentially.TraditionalrolesarebeingredefinedatanunprecedentedrateandHRmustadaptswiftlytonavigatethiscomplexnewworld.HR’smandatenowextendsbeyondmanagingemploymenttoorchestratingenvironments

wherehumansandintelligentsystemscollaborateeffectively.Thiseraischaracterizedbyitsneedtofocusonenhancinghumanwell-being,mergingcyberspacewithphysicalspaceanddrivingadata-driven,knowledge-intensivesociety.

Navigatingthisrapidevolutionwillbeoneof

HR’smostcomplexchallengesyet.Thehalf-life

ofchangehasshortenedfromcenturiestomere

years,requiringHRtonotonlykeeppacebutalsoanticipatethesocietalandorganizationalimpactsofthesetechnologicalleaps.Andnoorganizationwillbeabletositthischangeout.

Thisrepresentsareturntocoremissionformany

inHRwhochosethefieldduetotheirownaffinityforsafeguardingthehumaninwork.Asstewardsofhumanity,thatHRroleisnowexpanded,ensuringthatasweharnesstheseadvancements,we

maintainafocusonenhancinghumancapabilityandensuringequitableprogressthatcontinuouslyimprovestheworldofwork.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?7

Anexpandedpurposemeansanexpandedrole

TheroleofHRhasalsoundergoneprofoundtransformations

throughtheseages,evolving

significantlywitheachindustrialrevolution—andoftenchangingnamestoreflectthosebig

changes.Now,asweedgeclosertofullyenteringthecognitive

era,HR’sroleissettoundergoitsmostsignificantevolutionyet—butinawayithasalsocomefullcircle.Onceagain,HRisonamissiontoprotectwell-being,safetyandhumanity—creatinginteresting,fulfillingworkplaces

andhelpingpeopletosucceedandthriveinatimeoftransformativetechnologicalchange.

ThepressingneedforHRistomovefrombeingstewardsofemploymenttostewardsofwork,

toultimatelystewardsofhumanity,guiding

organizationswithavisionaryapproachthat

willhelptointegrateAIandhumancapabilities

moreseamlessly—whileensuringthatweleavehumansbetteroffthanwhentheybeganworkingwithus.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?8

Role

Stewardsofemployment

Stewardsofwork

Stewardsofhumanity

Era

Past

Now

Next

Goals

Productivityandalignment

Organizationalagilityandemployeeexperience

Todogoodandimprovethehumancondition

Ensure

Compliantprocesses

Engagingjourneys

Ethicalinterconnectedness

Essentialbuildingblocks

•Efficient,effective,compliantorganizationswith

automatedprocesses.

•Data-drivendecision-making

•Sound,compliantHRpoliciesandpractices.

•Equitabletotalrewardsandtalentdevelopment.

•DigitalfirstHRcapabilitiesthatreducemanualadministrationandfreeupHRformore

strategicvalueaddwork.

•Skills-poweredorganizationspoweringincreasinglyopenworkecosystems.

•Designforemployeejourneys,notjustHRprocesses.

•Customer-centricinteractions

andoperatingmodelswithrelevantandimpactful

HRservices.

•AIaugmentationofhumanproductivity.

•GenerativeAIasaninterfaceforHRservices.

•ExpansionofHRcapabilitiesasHRembracesandmodelsAI

useintheirownwork.

•BreakdownofsilosintheprovisionofHRservices.

•HRastheconscienceofthe

organizationandthetalent

marketplace,ensuringthat

AIisusedforthegoodofthe

organizationandtheworkforce.

•Managementofthehuman-

machinerelationshipdynamic.

•Riskmitigationandguardianship.

•Innovationtoidentifynewareaswherehumanscanandwill

driveuniquevalueinthenewworldofwork.

HR’scriticalevolution

Butlet’sbeclear:manyHRorganizationshavelongperfectedtheirrolesasstewardsofemployment,

butotherscontinuetodosoanditisfoundationallyimportantforHRtogetthisright.Fromthere,

theprerequisitetomakingthatjumptobeingastewardofhumanityistofirstmasterbeing

stewardsofwork.Thisprogressionisimperative

tobuildonaswemovetowardsafuturewhere

HRmustnotonlyanticipatechangebutactively

shapetheintegrationofAIintheworkplaceto

enhancehumandignityandorganizationalefficacy.RedefiningworkandthehumanexperienceofworkinyourHRpracticeiscritical.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?9

NewHRmandate:

Stewardsofhumanity

ThisentailsafundamentalshiftinHR’srole,emphasizingstrategiesthatfosterhuman-machine

collaborationandenhancethewell-beingofemployeesasAItransformsthenatureofwork.

It’simportanttonotethatthefuturestateof

well-beingmaylookverydifferentthanitdoes

today.LeadershiphereisvitalinensuringwestayontherightsideofAI’sdualimpact—enhancingproductivityandworkqualitywhilesafeguardingagainstdeepeningsocietaldividesandjob

displacement.BecauseAIhasthepotentialtolifttheburdenoftedious,repetitiveworkfrombothHRandemployeesateveryleveloftheorganization,HRcanhelpemployeestoensurethatAIshepherdsinan

eraofmoreengaging,interestingworkwithhigherimpactandvalue.

Stewardsofhumanity

It’sacallinganyHRleadermight

finddauntingbutitissolidlywithin

HR’straditionalremit.HRisuniquelypositionedattheintersectionof

technology,peopleandorganizationalstrategytoexecuteonthismandate.

So,thequestionisreally:Onceyouhaveeffectivelyestablished

stewardshipoverwork,howcan

HRbestnavigatetowardsuccessfulstewardshipof

humanity?

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?10

Hereareafewareastokeepwithinyoursights:

EthicaluseofAI:

Asstewardsofhumanity,

HRmustcrosssilostoworkwithOrganizationalDevelopment,

legal,complianceandother

functionstofocusoneffectivelyandethicallymanagingthe

dynamicrelationshipbetween

humansandmachines—and

adequatelyplanningforhow

thatwillimpacttheorganization.EnsuringAI’sethicaluseand

advocatingformeaningful

humanoutcomesareparamount.

Safeguardingenvironmental,social,andgovernance

(ESG):Astheconscienceof

theorganization,HRwillneedtoensuretheorganizationiskeepingfaithwithgrowing

societaltrustintheorganizationanduseAIinawaythatdoesn’tnegativelyimpacthumansintherolesofthefuture.

Preservinghumanwell-being:

Protectingthewell-beingof

employeesasAItransformsthenatureofwork.Thisincludes

shepherdingthemovementtoAIandautomationtakingon

moreofthetransactionalwork

andlettinghumansfocusmoreontherelationalandexpertise

functions(oftenincollaborationwithAI),aswerecentlyunpackedinour2024GlobalTalent

Trendsresearch.Italsomeans

understandingandresolving

fearsaboutAItakingjobsand

finally,itmeansensuringthat

thebenefitsofAIenhancethe

employeeexperienceandoverallhuman-centricworkpractices.

WhenHRpersonifiesthisroleitwillmeannotonlythatHRleaderscontinuetohaveaseatatthetable,butthattheyareaheardvoiceineveryroom,ensuringthatdecisionsaremadeforthegoodoftheorganizationandthepeopleinit.

TheFutureofHumanResources:WhowillcarefortheHumanatWork?11

Caringforthehumaninourorganizations

Thecognitiveeraisonourdoorstepandthedisruptionwillnotend

withgenerativeAI.HRhasagoldenopportunitytoensureitsarrival

isn’tanextinction-leveleventfor

employeewell-beingorjobsatall.

Letthisarticleserveasacalltoactionforyou—asHR

professionals—urgingyoutorisetoanunprecedented

moment.AtMercer,thisissomethingwealsoarelaser-

focusedon