The Must-Read Articles for Talent Professionals This Week

Human resources has gone through many iterations over the years. During the Industrial Revolution, it was the personnel department, with a focus on tracking workers’ hours and skills. In the mid-20th century, it became human resources, with an emphasis on treating people fairly and driving productivity. And as the internet came of age in the 1990s, it morphed into the people team.

But now, argues Amy Hanlon-Rodemich, former chief people officer at Nokia and GlobalLogic, it’s time for HR 4.0. In a Fast Company article, Amy H-R says that we’re on the precipice of a “new transformation” in HR, with generative AI, flex-work policies, and the influence of the younger generations paving the way.

“All of these factors are leading my colleagues and me to agree,” she says, “that a somewhat radical overhaul of the profession is sorely needed.”

What will that look like? According to Amy, there will be a move toward greater automation and digitalization, as well as a “need for deeper connectivity with employees.” To learn more about how the future of HR might unfold, be sure to check out the top spot on our list below of must-read articles for talent professionals.

Further down the list, you can also learn how Jess Almlie believes learning and development professionals can become strategic business partners; why workers in Germany are defying their reputation as workaholics; and how a drop in employee engagement — the “Great Detachment” — is the biggest looming challenge for organizations.