Page 16 - Islands Business June 2023

HR and Recruitment HR and Recruitment

VALUES, FLEXIBILITY AND

DIGITISATION

GLOBAL HR TRENDS AND THE PACIFIC

Global trends in human resources and recruitment include a its mission, vision, and its values,” Tora writes.
greater focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) “In the orientation process, the role of the elder falls on
efforts, recruiting for skills and adaptability (not just formal the company leaders – frontline managers, middle manag-
qualifications), and harnessing data, analytics and artificial ers, and the top brass. First, they must ensure that the
intelligence (AI). onboarding process has the necessary components to make
But how does this translate to Pacific Islands workplaces? it successful. Their role before the process even begins is to
verify that the process will produce employees that under-
A greater focus on ESG stand what the business does and what it stands for. Once
KPMG’s recent report, The future of HR: Lessons from the the process begins, they must become active participants
Pathfinders noted that tackling inclusion, diversity and equity alongside the new employees. They need to be there in
in the workforce, and understanding what that means for em- the midst of things. By being there, right with the employ-
ployee experience, culture and the talent pool of the future is ees, managers will be able to proactively identify issues/
key to the sustainability and impact of companies. concerns that may arise during the process and counteract
Workers want to see their companies contribute to the well- in a timely manner. Lastly, they must become guides for
being of their communities. The hundreds of people who have the employee once the process is complete. Become men-
turned up to help clean the Colonial War Memorial hospital in tors, instructors, guides as these employees find their way
Suva twice this year is testament to that. Joining registered through the organisation.”
groups of school children and alumni, were teams from banks, Nudging health behaviours and worker wellness is part of
call centres and university staff. the ESG equation as well. Many companies have taken this
Communicating the workplace’s values and expectations onboard, see the number of work groups walking around
from the start is critical.
A writer on organisational
psychology, Alfred Tora, draws
parallels between Vakato-
kayaca, the solemn Fijian
ceremony that stems from an
ancient relationship with a
child’s kinship, natural, spiri-
tual and social environment,
and the practice of onboarding
new employees.
“Much like how the vakato-
kayaca ceremony fosters a bal-
ance between the identity of
the individual and that of the
family, the goal of the orienta-
tion process is to indoctrinate
the new employee with the
values and goals of the organ-
isation. The dipping of the feet
into the pool filled with the
community’s totem tree and
animal, is said to enforce the
connection between the baby
and its ancestors. An organisa-
tion’s version of ‘dipping the
feet’ is when it expounds on Corporate teams participate in the recent clean up of the CWM hospital in Suva. Photo: Ministry of Health and Medical Services

16 Islands Business, June 2023