HR predictions 2009: HR Zone exclusive insight into the year ahead

12 December 2008:

What do you think HR will look like in 2009?

"Focus": David Fairhurst, senior vice president, chief people officer, McDonald's UK & Northern Europe
"Given the current economic climate, I think there'll be a noticeable distinction between those who maintain their focus on the critical long-term issues and those who allow themselves to become distracted by the short-term measures we will all, inevitably, have to take. There's going to be a lot of pressure to cut back budgets, but I think those HR departments that maintain their focus on core, longer term objectives will emerge as successful in the long run."

"Slimmed down HR": Paul Roberts, strategic director, health and wellbeing consultants IHC
"HR will be leaner and meaner. Some will have 'survivor syndrome' where they have the feeling of the last man standing. Controlling a redundancy project and handling a lot of highly emotionally-charged meetings is tough for any team and the team may feel a bit bruised in 2009. The effect will be a leaner team with more defined goals and more concentration on the things that will have a big effect on business performance."

"Focus on redundancies": Stephen Taylor, senior lecturer in HRM, Manchester Metropolitan Business School
"We will be less concerned with recruiting and retaining people and more concerned with handling redundancies, managing re-organisations designed to bring about cost reductions and handling the consequences in pay terms of very low price inflation, or even deflation."

"HR language to disappear": Steve Bicknell, co-founder of business psychology consultancy Getfeedback
"HR will become more specific and targeted. For the past few years the profession of and language of HR has become increasingly confused and confusing. Terminology like 'talent management', 'succession planning', 'coaching' and 'development' will be given proper definition and will be delivered with more precision."