Let’s start off on the right foot
“Because you don't live near a bakery doesn't mean you have to go without cheesecake.” —Hedy Lamarr
The skinny
In a recent survey, three-quarters of HR respondents said they perform duties outside their department on a regular basis.
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Duh.
Well, it may seem like an obvious statement, but HR professionals who are feeling overwhelmed should not feel alone. HR’s job is getting more complex overall because it’s becoming more broadly involved in company strategy.
How?
Because of the changing needs of modern workplace, HR has been tasked with identifying how an organization can get from where they are now, to where they need to be.
Is that all?
No small task. The unique crisis that was 2020 has given HR the opportunity to rethink their roles and expand and solidify their necessity in the workplace.
HR world domination?
You’ve got all the infinity stones alright. Even before the pandemic and societal reckoning of the past year, organizations were realizing that it’s not just what you do, it’s how you do it. HR was on the forefront of that dynamic shift. And, organizations have begun to turn to HR for overall guidance on how to handle these massive human issues.
So, more like a Yoda situation?
Solve all the problems, you will. HR is used to wearing a lot of hats, or should we say, capes, but as HR increasingly branches out into the continuing-to-get-more-complex people issues, it also finds itself up against the “historic tension” between itself and other executive-level positions.
The End Game starts now.
People vs profit. And HR seems to be the underdog. Most C-suite executives in a recent Sage survey said pandemic-driven changes in HR are only temporary, and about half viewed HR as a largely administrative function despite the 2020 wins.
Love an underdog story.
Us, too. But the people part of the equation has tipped the scale for some CEOs who want HR to have a seat at the table. There’s a lot riding on HR to show value, and now’s the time to not just take direction from other parts of the organization but push back and speak up about how to move forward into the future successfully.
Totes quotes: "A lot of senior leaders think they’re experts in HR just because they manage people, but that is the same expertise I would have in finance by having a checking account." —Brian Kropp, group VP and Chief of HR research at Gartner.
Date with data: 74% of employees think businesses should take a position on societal issues.
Big picture: Improving analytical capabilities is just one way that HR professionals can rethink and reinvent their roles in 2021.
The skinny
In 25 years, the pay gap has shrunk by only 8 cents.
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That’s pittance.
Pull up a chair. This may be a good time to mention that March 24th was Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes how far into the following year the average woman must work to earn the same amount the average man did in the previous year, regardless of experience or job type.
Oh no they didn’t.
It gets worse. Black women would have to work until August 3, 2021 to earn what men made in 2020 and for Latina women, it’s October 2.
No words.
That’s a first, but I hear you. It’s hard to fathom that we are still having this issue in 2021, despite the major advances women have made in recent elections and you know, the fact that we landed on mars this year. But gender disparities and discriminations run deep in our society making it harder for women to build wealth and get ahead.
What do you mean?
Women hold almost two-thirds of the nation’s student loan debt, and it takes them longer to pay it off because of the lower wages. That plus, only 72 women for every 100 men are promoted and hired to manager-level jobs. So, women end up holding only 38% of those higher-paying roles.
It gets worse?
Here’s where the societal thing comes into play. Women tend to take on more responsibilities at home like childcare and household chores. Before the pandemic, women in hetero couples spent two more hours a day on household chores and childcare than their male partners. Not to mention the “motherhood penalty.”
Haven’t hit bottom yet?
Nope, there’s more shrimp tails where that came from. Lower overall earnings contribute to women on average holding two-thirds of what men have in retirement accounts. And like we’ve mentioned before, the pandemic did nothing to improve things. All these issues mixed with good old-fashioned sexism make it more difficult for women to negotiate salary, ask for raises and get paid the same amount as men for doing the same job.
Well, now I’m depressed.
Buck up butter cup. Mark your calendars for 2059. If current trends continue, that’s when the Equal Pay Day will finally happen. *(For white women. It will take a whole century for Black and Hispanic women to get there). In the meantime, organizations can do a few things to close the wage gap.
Like?
First, auditing employees’ pay and collecting data to determine the levels of disparity will be key. Throw out the old thinking of leaving room in an offer for negotiation. Instead, use good market data and compensation philosophy to make the best offer to all candidates. And for god’s sake, please stop asking about salary history.
Not fun fact: Women perform up to 30% more unpaid labor and work around two-thirds of the low-paying jobs in the US.
Totes quotes: “One cannot simply outperform inequality or be excellent enough to escape discrimination.” —Megan Rapinoe, two-time soccer World Cup champion.
Further reading: Salesforce makes strides toward gender equality.
The skinny
Active daydreaming about a post-pandemic future is healthy and good for mental health.
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Praise!
Yes, turns out all those “potential” vacations we’ve been planning, elaborate outfits we’ve been putting together (but never buying) and those dream-house Pinterest boards are all good for us. It’s a thing called “pandemic window-shopping.”
How glamourous.
Indeed. Some psychologists suggest that a good way to cope with trauma is to focus on the future. That coupled with an active imagination can be quite therapeutic and serve a variety of adaptive and satisfying functions by stimulating the emotional experiences we yearn for.
Feels kind of FOMO-y.
But that may be a good thing! Even if you never actually pick up and move to Portugal, it’s a good way to exercise feeling excited about something in the future. Pandemic window-shopping can help you feel better day-to-day because it helps move those feelings of inertia and hopelessness into something “productive.”
Ok, so don’t feel bad about my online shopping carts?
Nope, embrace it! Those overflowing carts of things you may never buy can actually save you money. They can help with “impulse-buying” and the subsequent regret that comes with it.
Excellent news.
Ok, but, quick warning. If you find yourself disappearing into your dream-house remodel spreadsheet and ignoring the present, it might be time to take a step back. Balance is key.
Further reading: Make a Ta-DAH list.
 Now a break from the news… |
 Compliance Corner |
Here’s something to…
- Watch: 100 movies to watch at least once in your life.
- Prep: 5 strategies for successful meal planning.
- Read: 200,000 new enrollments in the ACA.
- Pet: Majority of orgs plan to make their offices more pet friendly. Woof there it is!
- Smell: New scents from the Pandemic Candle Co. #laptopkitty
- Register for: Register now for Vision 2021.
- Take note: Dr. Rachel Levine becomes first openly transgender person confirmed to federal post.
- Hoop: M2
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