HCM Talent Technology Roundup July 2 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has sharpened employers’ focus on employee experience, with more than nine out of 10 (94%) saying improving experience will be a top priority over the next three years. That’s up from 54% before the virus struck, according to a survey by Willis Towers Watson. The numbers hint that bosses and workers are of like minds when it comes experience—to a degree. A separate study by Eagle Hill Consulting said that 64% of American workers believe employee experience directly impacts their ability to serve customers. However, just 38% say their organization places a great deal of importance on employee experience and satisfaction.

American businesses have more positions available than people willing to take them, with 13.6 million jobs currently posted and remaining vacant for a month on average, says staffing firm PeopleReady. Jobs in several sectors are staying open even longer, but contingent workers may provide help, but some reports indicate it won’t be enough.

A number of organizations are missing opportunities to track and nurture DEI efforts across their recruiting and hiring process, although talent acquisition and HR professionals believe their companies are making significant progress. According to research by iCIMS and the Talent Board, nearly 20% of organizations aren’t tracking diversity metrics in their recruitment or hiring practices. More than half (52%) have not used diversity-related data or analytics beyond what’s required for EEOC compliance.

Slack introduced new features meant to help teams work together more dynamically and conveniently. Media reports say the release is a sign of increased competition among the providers of tools that support the hybrid workforce. Among the new features is Huddles, which the company describes as “a lightweight, audio-first way to start live conversations.” It’s the equivalent, Slack said, of kicking off a chat with someone walking by your desk.

DHI Group completed the spinoff of eFinancialCareers to eFC’s management team, while holding onto a 40% equity interest and have board representation. With the move, Dice is now focused on technology careers and jobs requiring security clearances. Dice acquired eFC in 2006.

Recruiting technology TopFunnel acquired Teamable, an employee referral platform that leverages social networks. TopFunnel automates much of the recruiting process, while Teamable aggregates employees’ contacts from social and professional networks to provide recruiters with a more focused group of candidates.

People analytics firm Visier raised $125 million in a Series E funding round, bringing its estimated value to about $1 billion. Visier said it’s the first vendor in the space to reach so high a valuation. The company is benefitting from what CEO Ryan Wong called an “unprecedented demand for companies to better understand the people within their organizations.”

Onboarding platform Trainual closed a $27 million Series B investment, led by Altos Ventures. The company said it will use the funds to increase the pace of product development. The round follows a $6.75 million Series A investment and brings the company’s total funding to $33.75 million.

Authors

Mark Feffer

Mark Feffer is executive editor of RecruitingDaily and the HCM Technology Report. He’s written for TechTarget, HR Magazine, SHRM, Dice Insights, TLNT.com and TalentCulture, as well as Dow Jones, Bloomberg and Staffing Industry Analysts. He likes schnauzers, sailing and Kentucky-distilled beverages.