Gables Residential

Philip Altschuler

Philip Altschuler, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Gables Residential, combines decades of experience with innovative human management solutions to help the company increase revenue and profitability. Lauded for his high energy and impactful outcomes, Altschuler is enthusiastic about mentoring leaders to enhance their efficacy, leadership skills and the ability to foster a positive work environment.

In an interview with Manage HR, Altschuler discusses the need to understand technological advancements to increase employee productivity.

How has your journey been in the field of HR?

I started my career in the recruitment sector and eventually moved to the benefits sector and now I run the human resources department at Gables. I have worked in various industries such as hospitality, circus and real estate, both retail and residential.  

In my current role, I help my team execute all facets of HR, such as compensation, benefits, recruitment and training, up through succession planning. No days of work are alike as I travel around the country to ensure I'm where I’m needed to provide the greatest support to my team.

What are the challenges prevailing in the industry?

The newer challenges concern the arrival and evolution of artificial intelligence. However, the persistent challenges in the industry are retaining top talent, having the right leaders and grooming the talent internally to preserve the organizational culture.

“We have an online reward and recognition program called Gables Ovation, where the employees and their significant others are awarded points to take time off or get merchandise or gift cards for charity.”

There is a critical aspect that is overlooked while dealing with the challenge of talent retention. Many leaders think that employees leave an organization solely because of the work pressure or culture, but there is more to it. Most employees will have a point of influence that will lead them to leave a job. When an employee is unhappy with the workspace, a significant other will listen to the complaints. Once the complaints cross the limit, the person who has an emotional influence on the employee might advise to give up the job. As a result, it becomes important to take into consideration the significant other of the employee for an employer. This ensures that the efforts of the employee are monetarily compensated and provided public recognition.

What are the initiatives taken by Gables to tackle the challenges?

We have an online reward and recognition program called Gables Ovation, where the employees and their significant others are awarded points to take time off or get merchandise or gift cards for charity. We are currently exploring ways to expand the program. Through this program, we give the employee and the significant other a reason to understand why working for us is beneficial, which in turn helps us retain talent.

How do you envision the future of the industry?

The boom of AI is going to change the landscape of the HR industry. For example, the software Sora by Open AI helps users create videos from textual instructions. Instead of hiring a designer, this software can be used to create designs and videos. The impact of it has to be measured, but the results obtained are quite convincing. Migrating to using and managing such software effectively can improve productivity.

What is your piece of advice for the young professionals in the industry?

Always be curious about the advancements in the industry. Regardless of the changes, whether AI, social media, new communication platforms and trends or developing a new skill set, ensure consistent efforts to learn. Being adept could help explore opportunities and improve potential.

For example, equipment like a barbeque grill that gives you a 3D demonstration of the process of its working in real-time just by feeding its model number into software is an innovative, futuristic idea. Look for ideas to incorporate these interactive technologies in different departments like sales or marketing. Call centers could employ this to ensure faster responses. It is important to keep learning and look for ways to incorporate those lessons in the field of work. Push yourselves to understand newer aspects of work because whether you like it or not, having a grasp on the advancements can take you far forward in career.