Remote offices. Hybrid work models. Gig, contract and freelance workers. Flexible scheduling. Mental health days. Unlimited paid time off.

Work, as we have always known it, is transforming. The policies and practices that set the parameters for the traditional workplace have been disrupted and new ideas are now setting the pace for how companies function and manage their work teams.

This year's HR Technology Conference & Exposition, taking place Sept. 13-16 in Las Vegas, will focus on the new world of work. HR leaders attending this event will see the latest innovations in HR technologies and hear experts in the field discuss the trends and practices redefining the workforce. Conference sessions will focus on core HR; diversity, equity and inclusion; employee experience; HR digital transformation; learning and reskilling; people analytics; talent acquisition and management; and well-being and mental health.  

This SmartBrief on Workforce Special Report aims to help you get ready for the event. It's packed with news and stories spotlighting the latest trends and practices around managing the modern workforce.

Not registered for the event? Sign up now! Early bird registration ends Aug. 15. 

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Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall will kick off this year's HR Technology Conference with her keynote address Going ALL IN: Breaking Down Barriers to Transform Culture. The NBA's first Black female CEO, Marshall will talk about how she helped change the culture of the Mavericks organization using a set of values as the foundation for making business decisions and creating a workplace climate where every voice matters. Come ready to be inspired as Marshall shares the vision that has become the gold standard for diversity and inclusion, and coaches you on how to think of "the person first and employee second."

Maria Reis, who is part of the HR team at LG Electronics North America, focuses on creating a positive work culture and making the workplace desirable. When Reis began at LG, she noticed a lack of trust and communication but has spent the last four years focusing on improving that and enhancing the work culture, as well as welcoming change and empowering workers.

Making psychological safety part of the workplace culture starts by helping employees feel physically and emotionally safe and letting them know leadership wants to hear and respond to their concerns, says Harvard University's Amy Edmondson. "To reach the highest possible levels of physical safety as we go back to work in the midst of or at the end of the pandemic means nurturing psychological safety," Edmondson says.

The increase in digital transformation is prompting HR to collaborate with other business leaders on the way technology affects leadership, skills development and workplace culture, HR leaders say. "We've learned that a dedicated project team comprised of HR, operations, IT and relevant business experts is a winning model for us," says Alix McCabe, chief HR and communications officer at Allianz Trade North America.

Chief human resources officers have an obligation to foster company culture in a hybrid environment given the preferences of the modern employee. It's difficult to replicate working in an office, experts say, but workplaces must be intentional in establishing a rapport with personnel nonetheless.

Leaders can hone their empathy by being curious about the lives of their team and creating a positive workplace culture that promotes innovation and engagement, writes LaRae Quy. "When burnout has reared its ugly head in so many professions, empathy skills can counter many of those soul-sucking emotions because it creates a positive environment," Quy writes.

Team members who are unusually hard on themselves need leaders who can coach them on how to manage their inner critic, tap into more positive internal monologues and get a clearer perspective on their situation, writes Jennifer V. Miller. "It's about encouraging a healthy mindset to rebound from setbacks so they can build resilience and move on to a more productive work life," Miller writes.

The pandemic has traumatized much of the workforce, causing many people to seek other jobs, writes John Borland, CEO of data analytics firm Perceptyx, who offers a four-step plan to implement an employee listening program to uncover and address pain points to boost engagement and satisfaction. "As executives who care about their employees' well-being, the best thing we can do is to make sure our ears are open and our leaders are ready to act," Borland writes.

Technology has eliminated a chunk of the need for in-person interaction and provided efficiencies in business, but it has also left many workers feeling isolated, sometimes misunderstood, and unable to fully "switch off," writes BrightHR CEO Alan Price. Finding ways to improve tech-human balance and implementing tech that has a human touch are newly crucial areas in employee experience, Price writes.

"Seamless interaction" between HR leaders and their tech counterparts is a formula for success, says Juancho Jerusalem of HR tech company Darwinbox. Jerusalem calls his formula for digital transformation ADOPT -- starting with assimilation and moving on to delivery; "over and above" support from management; "people, people, people"; and taking risks to find the proper technology.