Maximizing HR Potential in the Metaverse

Who would have thought that in 2023 we could put on a virtual headset and enter a completely virtual world?

OK, while we aren't entirely there (yet), this is exactly what we can look forward to in the near future. With the rise of the metaverse, and more than £120 billion being invested in building out the capabilities of this virtual reality, it is clear that this technology will change how we view the world forever.

And this isn't just about gaming. Businesses are taking notice, too, as research from ExpressVPN, surveying 1500 employers and 1500 employees, highlights that 77 percent of employers are excited about the metaverse, and 57 percent of employees share the same excitement.

So what is it about the metaverse that is so exciting, and how will this change HR?

The metaverse is a virtual world that users can enter via a virtual or augmented reality headset. It offers businesses an utterly redefinable space, allowing employees to work from anywhere globally and collaborate as if they were in the same room.

This has enormous implications for HR, as they will be at the forefront of navigating a whole new set of challenges, from ensuring that employees have access to the best virtual headsets and training on how to use them to create safe and comfortable working environments within the metaverse itself.

But the key question for businesses is - what is the value of the metaverse for HR?

Enhanced Collaboration

Currently, many businesses use two-dimensional virtual collaboration tools, such as Slack, Skype, and Zoom, to enable remote and hybrid teams to communicate and enhance employee relations. However, these remote work tools are limited because they cannot fully replicate the experience of working in a physical office. As Mark Mortensen, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at INSEAD, highlights on the Digital HR leaders podcast: 

"One of the big challenges that we face when working remotely is we don't know the same stuff. So, if we're sitting together in a room, we would both know how warm the room is, and if we're uncomfortable, we both know whether or not one of us came in stressed out about a recent meeting or something else".

The metaverse, however, can replicate these types of non-verbal cues and subtle behaviours in a virtually simulated space that mimics the real world. Water cooler conversations that would typically take place in a physical office can now happen (again), and remote colleagues can once again have conversations as if they were sitting at opposite desks. 

In essence, it facilitates more meaningful and natural conversations between employees, regardless of whether they are physically present with each other or working remotely.

Training & Development Immersion

Imagine a world where surgeons could practice their craft in a virtual room without worrying about the ethical and legal implications of practising on real people. Or where new firefighters could train on a simulated fire. These are just some exciting possibilities for virtual reality in training and development. 

As HR professionals, we understand that to master a craft or skill, you must immerse yourself in it and experience it first-hand. And this is exactly what the metaverse can do.

With a technology that can recreate any environment, HR professionals can create immersive training experiences where recruits, or even experienced employees, can experience and practice complex skills needed for the future of HR in a safe and controlled environment.

New Recruitment Opportunities

One of the most exciting possibilities HR professionals can look forward to with the metaverse is its potential to reinvent recruitment.

Think about it - a candidate could go on virtual "tours" of organisations they are interested in joining and assess their fit with the organisation, all without having to physically visit the office.

In fact, this has been found to be a massive success for major companies such as PwC and Samsung, who have already started experimenting with virtual recruitment.

And the metaverse won't just impact how HR recruit; it will also change how HR onboards. HR professionals will be able to use VR to create virtual orientation experiences that can help employees get up to speed on their new employer's culture and values or give them a sense of what it would be like to work in different teams or departments.

With Every Opportunity, Comes Its Challenges

While the possibilities for HR in the metaverse are endless, there are also several challenges that HR professionals must be ready to face.

For one, HR will need to create policies and working practices to ensure that employees can safely and comfortably work in the metaverse without being exposed to various types of risks, such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination.

There may be some resistance from older generations that are more accustomed to working in physical spaces and less open to new technologies. This may require some vigorous training, support and cultural changes. 

HR will also have to consider privacy and data security issues, as HR data could become more vulnerable to breaches and hacks in the metaverse. But that is something they will have to work hand in hand with IT and security departments to address.

Can the Metaverse Transform HR?

Overall, HR in the metaverse is an exciting new frontier for HR professionals to rethink and reimagine how we do our jobs, from recruiting and training to onboarding new employees. With its ability to break down barriers and facilitate new forms of collaboration and creativity, the metaverse has the potential to be a game changer for HR and businesses alike.

And while it may come with its challenges, careful planning and foresight, HR leaders can ensure that they are well-prepared to harness the full potential of the metaverse and help their organisations succeed in this rapidly changing digital world.

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