Social

Changes in society, with regard to expectations and acceptable practices with regard to the place of work in the lives in people.

• Changing work patterns: 

  • growth in part-time / casual work (flexibility in managing work-life balance); 

  • higher pay rates permit less hours at work (for some)

• Labour fragmentation: 

  • Job mobility has increased (number of roles, industries) meaning HR cycle increases—volume of HR work; harder to retain talent; 

  • rising female participation rate, 

  • aging workforce, 

  • early retirement;

• Living standards: Wage increases, WHS, fringe benefits.

How this impacts HR:

HR must be responsive to social patterns. 

This requires sensitivity to and anticipation of social change and the flexibility to adapt to continually changing conditions.