Innovation Resource Center for Human Resources (IRC4HR™), along with The Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRCC), is currently funding a multi-national research project on the current state of the employment relationship.
The study will use a systematic framework of HR and other workplace practices to assess what determines the effectiveness of this relationship – for both employees and employers – and the impact of the relationship on organization performance. The first phase of the study launched in late 2015 with cross-industry surveys of employees and employers in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA.
A first set of survey findings is expected to be reported in early 2016. The focus will be on providing data-driven insights to business and HR leaders, academics, and public policy makers that will identify:
- How the quality of the employment relationship drives workforce engagement and organization performance
- Specific areas of HR practice that contribute to the effectiveness of the employment relationship
- Instances where public policy might further enhance, or could be impeding, the environment in which employment relationships thrive
The environment in which employees and employers engage has changed dramatically in the past ten years and continues to do so. It is unquestionable that these changes have a significant impact on individuals and organizations. Technology is changing the nature of work, redefining the meaning of ‘employee,’ and eliminating organization boundaries; shifts in social norms and demographics are impacting the expectations that workers bring to their jobs and the ways in which organizations define their purpose. Such fundamental change inevitably challenges traditional approaches to how and where work is performed; demands new skills, roles, and organization models; and questions the continued relevance of various employment-related social policies, among other impacts.
In a second phase of the project during 2016, IRC4HR™ intends to conduct interviews with business and HR leaders at a select group of organizations. The purpose of these discussions is to review the survey findings and implications, and to explore the various management practices that are in use – and being developed – to shape and influence the employment relationship to ensure it is well-positioned to contribute to organization performance and workforce engagement. Following the organization interviews, a set of case study-type summaries will be shared broadly with business and HR leaders and practitioners.
If you or someone in your organization would like to be included in project updates, or explore the opportunity to participate in Phase 2 of this study, please drop us a note at info@irc4hr.org.