SmartBrief on Workforce editor Mary Ellen Slayter spoke with Michael Aitken, director of governmental affairs for the Society for Human Resource Management, to get his thoughts on what direction the human resources sector is headed in 2009.

What effect will the current economic climate have on how employers recruit and retain workers? There's a lot of insecurity out there. In many ways, we've had such a boom economy for so long, but now we have to learn to maximize resources. This is uncharted territory for many of us. You can't talk about the current economy without talking about contingency plans. Employers that are still hiring have a bigger group of individuals to select from, but they are still asking, "Is this a must-have" before making a decision. At the same time, hiring managers have to be careful that short-term efforts to save money don't create bigger headaches down the road. The long-term skill shortage hasn't changed.

What will be the greatest challenge for managers in the coming year? Aligning the workforce to the organization's needs without destroying morale. We're not even amazed any more when Citibank says they are going to layoff 53,000 people. We've seen so many companies we thought were financially viable that turned out to be in trouble. In this type of environment, you have to be transparent and honest if you want employee buy-in.

What legislative issues should managers and human resources officials be aware of in 2009? Health care is also regaining momentum as a policy issue, and a range of options are on the table. Is it a shared responsibility? Do we divorce the employer from it? Other hot issues include the proposed "card check" legislation and mandatory paid sick leave. All of the focus right now, though, is on the economy. There will be a reluctance to do anything that could potentially harm job creation.

There's no doubt that the most significant issue of 2009 will continue be the shaky economy. Hiring managers will have to look for ways to do more with less, without alienating the very people they depend upon.

One strategy that some employers will adopt to help increase productivity at little cost is to encourage telecommuting. But it's not a one-size-fits-all solution, as many organizations find that decentralized work arrangements aren't compatible with their business needs.

Another continuing trend will be the growth in the use of social media to build professional networks. Such tools could become especially important for creating and building relationships as travel and conference budgets are curtailed.

As you develop creative ways to manage challenges that face you in your job, please share them with us. We welcome your feedback and may well feature it in our companion blog, SmartBlog on Workforce, which will launch in the coming weeks.

And in case you missed it, check out Part 1 of the SmartBrief on Workforce Year End Report, published last Tuesday, which looked back at the most important trends and stories of 2008. Fascinating stuff.

Thanks for reading.

Mary Ellen Slayter
Senior Editor, SmartBrief on Workforce