It’s hard to believe that 2015 has come and (almost) gone, and what a year it was for HR! The industry’s profile is rising, and it’s an interesting time to be part of the profession. We here at HRM have had a busy year writing about compelling and insightful topics, meeting with HR’s movers and shakers, and covering the best this exciting and evolving industry has to offer.

As the new year draws near, let’s take a look back at some of the most read articles, most watched videos and the trends that got people in the HR community talking.  

MOST READ ARTICLES

As the world of work changes, so does HR’s part as the bridge between a business and its people. Many of the most-read articles highlight HR’s growing role in leadership, employee engagement and business development. Although some of these are perennial favourites, current events also made appearances – the economy, work-life balance and the latest research were fair game.

• The last gasp for the performance review?
• 6 steps to team motivation for 2015
• How elusive is good HR?
• 7 body language techniques to help you make connections
• Five tips to create a healthy workplace
• HR job market in recovery
• 10 biases that keep us from thinking rationally
• The six-hour work day experiment
• Five things to know for a pet-friendly workplace
• Best buddies: Why work friendships are good for business
• Domestic violence: It’s time to talk about it
• What inspires productivity: the carrot, or the stick?

The big issues took centre-stage throughout the year and provided insight into where the industry might focus itself in 2016. Some common threads included the gender pay gap, multi-generational workplaces, inclusion and diversity, and the place of big data and social media in HR and beyond. These topics found there way into stories on everything from youth employment, gamification, workplace bullying, diverse leadership teams and more.

HRM TV

In addition to written pieces, HRM’s TV channel has brought professionals, thought leaders, concepts and companies to you in living colour:

• HRM TV: The future of motivation
• HRM TV: How to manage stressed employees
• HRM TV: Why certification and professionalisation matters in HR
• HRM TV: The returns on office design
• HRM TV: Where does Australian HR stand?

You might have also noticed we dipped our toes into the world of video blogs this year. Vloggers Sarah Miller, Hannah Ellis, Ricky Nowak and Sam Robertson worked hard to cover everything from leadership development and HR in social media to pressing legal concerns and the APC program.

PROFILES

People are the bread and butter of HR. The profession as a whole has made some great strides this past year, but only because this industry is powered by great people working hard to position HR as a strategic business partner. Here are some of our favourite profiles:

• Telstra: Heads together
• HR vital to Coca Cola’s growth
• It’s a woman’s world: Athalie Williams takes on diversity in mining
• HR on the frontlines
• John Akuak’s journey from Lost Boy to HR professional
• HR seeds to sow at Monsanto
• KFC’s recipe for success
• Rabia Siddique on leadership and diversity

A WORD FROM AHRI’S CEO AND PRESIDENT

We’ve had some brilliant contributions from AHRI’s CEO, Lyn Goodear, and president, Peter Wilson AM (FCPHR). Here are just a few of their most thought-provoking editorials from 2015:

• Mental health a big issue in the workplace
• Workplace culture: When ethics take flight
• How elusive is good HR?
• AHRI CEO Lyn Goodear on shaking up the world of HR

It’s been a year full of ups and downs in the HR industry, and 2016 is shaping up bring even more changes to this dynamic profession.