HR TRENDS IN IT: SHOULD YOU BE FOLLOWING THE TREND?

By: Maria João Gomes, Damia Group Portugal: Head of People & Culture

IT is a dynamic industry that is constantly evolving ⚙️

Every day we see new gadgets, updates to features and an incredible impact on our daily lives because of the industry. This means that IT companies are constantly trying to find ways to attract and retain the best talent. In recent years, IT companies have realised that they need to offer more than just a paycheck to be considered attractive in the marketplace. It’s no coincidence that rankings such as Teamlyzer’s Best IT Companies to Work For have become so important and that companies are scrambling to secure a place on the list.

Through my years working in IT People & Culture departments, I have seen the changes in the industry when it comes to our offers, contracts and benefits. So, in this article, I’m going to share with you the latest trends in HR within IT companies 🫶

1. Remote working policies. Starting with the biggest, the ability to work from anywhere has been the most sought-after benefit since COVID-19. Since then, most IT companies have embraced the possibility of allowing employees to work remotely as a long-term or permanent option. Developing a comprehensive remote working policy, such as a working model that works, is essential to support employees and maintain their productivity.

2. Provide mental health support. As the conversation around mental health becomes more mainstream and recognised as a priority for employee wellbeing and productivity, IT companies are now choosing to offer counselling, flexible working and wellness to prevent burnout and foster a work-life balance environment. Let’s not forget that we spent at least 2 years in shutdown due to the pandemic and that had a major impact on people, especially mental health, and we are still not aware of all the issues that resulted from that.

3. Upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Technology is advancing at the speed of light and IT companies are investing in strengthening and enriching the skills of their workforce to ensure they remain relevant and adaptable to new technologies and changing job roles. There’s also a massive shortage and skills gap between currently available IT professionals and open roles across European tech companies, and reskilling programmes for tech have become abundant.

4. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives. There has been a growing emphasis on fostering diverse and inclusive workplaces to attract and retain top talent, with companies implementing these DEI programmes and inclusive hiring practices. In a male-dominated industry, we have seen increasing efforts to make it more attractive to women.

5. Data-driven HR practices. It has become increasingly important to use data for talent acquisition, performance evaluation, workforce planning and training. These practices enable HR teams to make more informed decisions and improve overall organisational effectiveness.

6. Agile performance management. As traditional performance management becomes less relevant to the way teams are managed today, IT organisations are opting for more agile and feedback-based approaches that reflect the dynamic nature of their projects and the preferences of younger generations.

7. Customisable benefits packages. To meet the diverse needs of employees, including remote work allowances, health and wellness programmes, professional development funds, stock options, progressive bonuses, additional vacation time, company vehicles, and others.

8. A focus on employer branding. How we present ourselves to the outside world matters. To attract top talent in this highly competitive market, IT companies are investing in employer branding strategies to showcase their values, culture and career growth opportunities. This is why a strong social media presence, including content that promotes internal culture, is essential and why more and more companies are choosing to be present on various communication channels such as Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

9. Hybrid working model. Many IT companies are adopting hybrid working models, combining remote and in-office working to provide flexibility while maintaining collaboration and innovation. It has become the ‘best of both worlds’ for companies that need and rely on in-office collaboration, but understand the importance of flexibility to remain attractive.

10. AI and automation in HR processes. These technologies are being integrated into HR processes such as candidate screening, onboarding and HR analytics to streamline operations and increase efficiency while allowing people to focus on human relationships.

Our role in HR is to ensure that we build a business that reflects our culture and values while attracting and retaining top talent. And because we are in a competitive industry, we must always find ways to innovate and challenge ourselves to provide the best possible working environment for our employees. Ask for feedback and listen, always.

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