To cope well with the changes in the world of work due to digitization, technical training is required, but also more social skills. This is the conclusion of a study for which the market institute interviewed personnel managers and works councils on behalf of the state economic service and the Workers’ Chamber of Upper Austria. They also have burning questions about data security, but also about self-organization and communication.
market first conducted a qualitative survey among 32 HR managers and employee representatives, on the basis of which a questionnaire was drawn up. This was then presented to 100 HR managers and 200 works councils. In principle, both groups see similar challenges, albeit with different weightings in some areas. Two-thirds of both groups believe that digitization requires higher social skills from managers. Both parties want to be involved in the transition process and are thinking about a culture where failure is also necessary.
For 80 percent of HR managers, the question “How do you manage remotely?” the most important question. This is about questions of (hybrid) communication, appreciation, but also about how to train new employees and do team building. Of this group, 68 percent sees dealing with the flow of information as a challenge, 53 percent sees the balance between the different work environments.
Works councils are afraid of employee tracking
In addition to the question of how to stay in touch with the staff from a distance (71 percent) and how to keep the information flow going, maintaining team spirit (62 percent) is also at the top of the list for Works Council members. 62 percent see major challenges in the need for employees to organize as a result of digitization and 69 percent in avoiding constant tracking (e.g. in the home office).
The topic of home office has probably changed the most in the past three years: before the pandemic, there were often only “extreme positions” – the bosses would have thought that no one would work in the home office, the employees feared that they were off-duty – so it is now consensus that working from home contributes to an attractive working environment, Economic Councilor Markus Achleitner (ÖVP) is convinced. “Confidence in the employees has increased,” emphasized AK chairman Andreas Stangl. Tensions between those who are “allowed” to work from home and those who cannot – for example in manufacturing – have eased. According to Stangl, the only problems today are when decisions are made over the heads of the employees.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
