The Pandemic brought unprecedented changes in our lives. The most significant impact happened in our work life that moved from primary office to home. The Tech Talent Outlook by SCIKEY revealed that 82% surveyed respondents admit that they prefer working from home more than working from office. The remote work trend was initially forced, but after two years Remote working has become the new normal. The pandemic forced companies and employees to adjust to the grim reality for more than two years. Eventually, things settled down, and new habits formed.

Large HR operations teams were needed when employees worked from the office. Such an arrangement needed more efforts in conflict management and employee engagement. With remote working, the priorities have changed. It is more about caring and checking out if the employees need any help. According to the findings, 64% employees said that they are more productive working from home and feel lesser stressed. The new normal for HR shifted from engaging face to face to engage with remote employees whom they meet only virtually most of the time. With a sizeable number of employees unwilling to work from the office fully, the HR role has changed significantly. More than 80% of the HR managers admitted that hiring employees for full-time office presence is getting more difficult. Working from home is no more a choice but a new normal that every tech talent expects from their employer. The employers not willing to adapt will face challenges in hiring good talent and retaining those already employed. The tech workforce has found new love with remote working, giving them freedom and productivity that requires HR to be more trusting. Unengaged or underutilized employees will find alternatives faster and exit faster than pre-pandemic times.

Digital is the new way of doing everything, including employee hiring and engagement. This is when the HR teams get used to the digital way of doing everything like remote hiring, remote onboarding, remote employment, remote engagement, and remote exit. They can now focus on employee well-being and give them a feeling of a family that cares for them even when operating remotely. With physical shrinking, digital is a new way forward.