What is ‘people sustainability’?

Environmental sustainability is a top priority for business leaders worldwide due to the increasing severity of the climate crisis and associated regulations. However, that is not the only type of sustainability that requires focus in 2024. “Businesses cannot operate, cannot function, and will not be able to meet our profit goals or help our planet survive if we are not focused on people,” said Jennifer McClure, the CEO of Disrupt HR, in a recent webinar. A report from the IDC defines ‘people sustainability’ as “the intersection of employee engagement, empowerment, and corporate responsibility.” It encompasses the holistic view of an organization’s relationships with employees, customers, and suppliers to ensure long-term success. For HR teams, actively implementing people-centered initiatives internally is crucial in fostering a positive and sustainable work environment. These might support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), health and safety, or professional development. Such initiatives create a workplace culture where employees feel valued and supported, leading to higher productivity and retention. Establishing people sustainability as an integral aspect of the company’s identity in the marketplace can significantly enhance its brand reputation among customers and third-party suppliers.

Why is it so important in 2024?

Demonstrating that the organization champions its people is, arguably, more important now than ever. Many are facing labor shortages, and reasons for this include potential employees rejecting strict ‘back to the office’ policies or prioritizing personal development over joining the workforce. These factors also contribute to high attrition rates – according to PwC, in the next 12 months, almost a third of employees in the Asia Pacific region are likely to change employer, an increase of 10 percent on last year. A survey of 11,000 global employees from BCG recently found that salary, benefits, work-life balance, enjoyable work, and career learning opportunities were the top five factors that would tempt people to a new job. Younger employees, in particular, are placing more emphasis on company benefits. Such skills shortages, therefore, mean that companies need to offer more to attract top talent and survive in the current business landscape.

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How can HR teams achieve people sustainability?

1. Employee engagement: Ensure that employees are engaged and motivated within the organization and the work they do. This can be achieved with regular feedback mechanisms, opportunities for professional growth and development, and recognition and rewards for achievements.
2. Empowerment: Providing employees the autonomy and authority to make decisions and take action will make them feel trusted and valued. Offering opportunities for employees to contribute their ideas and voice their concerns can help foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the organization’s goals.
3. Corporate responsibility: Incorporating social and environmental responsibility into business practices, for example, through carbon footprint reduction and volunteering initiatives, will enable the business to contribute positively to society while enhancing its brand image. As a result, companies can attract new socially conscious customers, investors, and employees.
4. Diversity, equity, and inclusion: Fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and included is essential. This can be achieved through diversity training programs, unconscious bias training, and mentorship and sponsorship programs for underrepresented groups, creating a culture of openness and respect.
5. Trust and transparency: Transparent communication and actions build trust among employees, making them feel more secure in their roles. Achieving this could include setting up an open pay and reward structure, clear expectations, and honest feedback mechanisms. Indeed, hearing from employees allows a business to continuously improve its processes.
6. Well-being and balance: Since the pandemic and the huge transition towards home-working, many employees prioritize their work-life balance over other aspects of their jobs. Employers can support this through flexible working policies, well-being allowances, and mental health initiatives.
7. Health and safety: All employees should feel safe at the workplace as a minimum, but employers can go beyond with extra safety training sessions, health insurance, and even ergonomic workstations. This not only ensures compliance with regulations but also makes staff feel valued and protected.
8. Digital transformation: State-of-the-art technologies, like human capital management (HCM) software, enable organizations to centralize employee data, track performance metrics, and implement talent management strategies effectively. This can have a significant impact on people sustainability by making employees’ day-to-day tasks easier and supporting their continued growth.

The Rizing approach

A sustainable approach to the workforce is a lot easier to implement with a digital solution. Rizing People provides organizations with the tools they need to realize their people’s full potential and create a resilient and sustainable workforce. The comprehensive HCM solution, powered by SAP SuccessFactors, supports the entire talent lifecycle with features tailored to optimize core HR processes, performance management, talent acquisition, learning, succession planning, and compensation.

Rizing People provides a centralized view of employees’ data, ensuring efficient management of organizational, personal, and payroll information. This can be used to spot opportunities for improvement, set achievable goals, and identify rewardable successes. Specific Performance and Goals functionalities also facilitate the continuous alignment of employee activities with business objectives. This information is easily accessible by employees through an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface so they can remain motivated. Furthermore, the Talent Acquisition tools streamline the recruitment process, facilitating smooth and universal onboarding experiences that improve the employee experience.

Rizing People’s training capabilities empower employees to develop new skills that could lead to opportunities for progression and enhance their engagement at work.  Nurturing talent internally also ensures long-term organizational resilience and growth. Its Compensation Management tools improve budget accuracy and fairness, ultimately contributing to employee satisfaction and retention.

By taking advantage of Rizing People’s features, organizations can create a supportive environment where employees are engaged, developed, and rewarded appropriately. Discover more about how your business can achieve true people sustainability with Rizing People by watching the ‘Strategies for Building a Resilient Workforce’ webinar or contacting the expert team today.