COVID consequences: The pandemic triggered many changes to HR costs, staffing and tech.

The pandemic flipped the workplace on its head, and it's apparently doing the same thing to HR departments.

A great majority of HR leaders (85%) say they are currently restructuring their HR departments or are planning to restructure in the next two years, according to a new global study of larger companies by benchmarking firm American Productivity & Quality Center. The top goals of restructuring: improve HR's use of technology and better align with the business. Other key findings:

* HR spending. More than half (54%) of organizations say HR spending is on the rise, while 28% say it's declining.

* HR staffing. About half (51%) of companies experienced an increase in the number of full-time HR employees in the past 12 months, while 26% saw a decrease and 23% saw no change. A full 60% anticipate an increase in HR staffing in the coming year, compared to 17% who see a decrease.

* HR skills gap. HR pros say their...