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Modern HRM Trends

Human Resource Management: Planning, Recruitment, Selection, Training, Appraisal & Modern Trends

Paper I · Unit 3 Section 9 of 12 0 PYQs 22 min
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Modern HRM Trends

8.1 HR Analytics (People Analytics)

Using data, statistics, and AI/ML to make better HR decisions:

  • Predictive attrition models: Identify employees likely to resign 6 months before they do (IBM's Watson HR reportedly achieves 95% accuracy)
  • Hiring analytics: Analyse which traits correlate with high performance in specific roles
  • Workforce planning analytics: Model "what-if" scenarios for expansion or restructuring
  • Tools: Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud

8.2 Remote and Hybrid Work

COVID-19 (declared pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020) triggered the largest workplace transformation in decades. Key data:

  • 35% of India IT sector worked hybrid in 2024 (NASSCOM)
  • India's work-from-home jobs grew 1,200% in 2020; stabilised with hybrid becoming the new normal by 2022
  • Challenges: Collaboration, cybersecurity (VPN, Zero Trust architecture), employee surveillance vs. trust, performance management for remote teams
  • India: NASSCOM's digital skills program and the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) support the digital skills needed for remote work

8.3 Gig Economy and Platform Work

India has 7.7 million gig workers (NITI Aayog 2022) — projected to reach 23.5 million by 2030. Key platforms: Swiggy (5,00,000+ delivery partners), Zomato (3,00,000+), Urban Company (40,000+ professionals in India), Ola/Uber (1 million+ driver partners).

Policy challenge: Gig workers are independent contractors, NOT employees — thus excluded from EPF, ESI, gratuity. The Code on Social Security 2020 has provisions to extend social protection to gig/platform workers but rules are still being drafted. Rajasthan passed the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023 — the first state in India to legislate gig worker welfare. It mandates registration of gig workers and creates a welfare board.

8.4 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

  • Women in leadership: India's female board representation: 18.3% (2023, Deloitte Global BoardReady Report); Companies Act 2013 mandates at least one woman director in listed/certain companies
  • SC/ST reservation in public sector: Article 16(4) of Constitution; reservations for SC (15%), ST (7.5%), OBC (27%) in central government jobs
  • Persons with Disabilities (PwD): Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 mandates 4% reservation in central government establishments
  • LGBTQ+ inclusion: India's Supreme Court (Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, 2018) decriminalised consensual same-sex relations; many corporates now have explicit LGBTQ+ policies

8.5 Employee Well-being

Post-COVID, organisations recognise mental health as a productivity issue. WHO estimates depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. India-specific context:

  • National Mental Health Programme and iCall (TISS helpline) expanding mental health support
  • Many Indian corporates (Infosys, TCS, Wipro, Unilever India) now offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) covering counselling, financial guidance, and wellness apps
  • Work-life balance: The 70-hour work week debate in India (sparked by Narayana Murthy's 2023 comments) highlighted the need for structured well-being policies