Every company’s human resources department is the hub of the business, with its smooth operations filtering down to all teams in the organisation. An efficient HR strategy is instrumental in everything from hiring new employees and ongoing training to people management and employee wellbeing.
Human resources strategy
The key to success to business operations is having an optimum human resources strategy. If your company has been operational for a long time, this may seem obvious, as you’ll have been running your HR department possibly for years.
However, as the company evolves, so too should the HR strategy. No-one can afford to be too complacent and fail to update practices and procedures, as this is how your organisation becomes stagnant.
Always be on the lookout for ways to improve, ensuring the HR department remains suitable for your business as it changes over time. Human resources must continue to fulfil your company’s requirements, as this is the core fundamental of your operations.
Make sure the strategy remains on track by liaising effectively with the HR team and being proactive, rather than reactive, when it comes to necessary changes.
Why is communication important at work?
This brings us to our next point: ensuring communication channels between human resources, managers and other departments are always open and transparent.
A clear HR strategy will provide direction for your company and many components of HR management rely on good communication. This includes making employee policies and procedures available to the workforce to ensure everyone is on the same page. This can be done by posting information on the corporate website, emailing employees with updates, using bulletin boards or through any other system that has proven effectiveness.
Information important to employees includes performance feedback after a routine evaluation. Personal development in the workplace has always been important and a great emphasis is placed on every individual’s career path today. Most HR departments will have a standardised approach to sharing the feedback with each individual employee, either electronically or face-to-face.
Hiring new employees requires specific information to be communicated by managers to HR. There are certain questions to ask when hiring a new employee to ensure they have the required skills and will be a good fit for the position.
Should you recruit quantity over quality?
The recruitment process should never be rushed. Recruiting new candidates benefits from a set process, as rushing through the procedure may result in the wrong choices.
Striking a good balance between quantity and quality can be an effective approach. Clearly define the job requirements, with the aim of attracting applicants who match the criteria closely. Some firms use modern technology like an applicant tracking system to streamline candidates during the CV screening stage, especially if there are a lot of applicants.
Obviously, quality is a requirement of every company, so matching potential applicants with the role is always vital. However, quantity can help in terms of casting the net wider, enabling you to meet candidates with a diversity of skills who may be a welcome but unexpected addition to the team.
Training programmes
Regular training and upskilling programmes are a must to make sure every team member is kept up to speed with the company’s requirements. As a manager, research the latest training methods to enable you to acquire the necessary skills to improve not only the team, but also the wider organisation of the company. Keep a handle on new and improved HR systems, video technology and the latest tech, such as chat bots, all of which can be used in staff training.
As technology advances, so does the need for upskilled employees, in both human resources and across the company in general. Consider your current training programmes to determine whether they fit the bill and update them if necessary. Research shows six out of ten employees believe the relevant training helps them to improve their performance at work and gives them the ability to carry out all their tasks well.
Businesses are, on average, 21% more profitable when they provide training for employees, who become 17% more productive and feel more engaged as a result, according to a Gallup survey. With 92% of employees agreeing that workplace training programmes have a positive impact on their job engagement, it shows the importance of this aspect of your company.
Employee handbook
Another vital function of human resources is to provide an employee handbook that highlights business policies, ensuring the whole workforce abides by this. A place for the company to detail policies all in one place, this can include the hours of work, sick leave and holiday procedures, employee benefits, unpaid absence, the length of the probationary period and dress code, for example.
Keep the handbook concise and clear and update it regularly to keep up to speed with new regulations. Recognised procedures and guidelines can help with the smooth management of multiple tasks for many departments. It helps to teach people how to be organised at work, while adhering to the company ethos and culture.
Time management at work is crucial: not only does an efficient HR strategy form the basis for completing everyday tasks effectively, but it also creates a solid framework to plan longer-term business goals.
Benefits of a bespoke workplace
Being based in a bespoke workplace can have many advantages for your business, including improving company culture and giving your team greater flexibility, which improves wellbeing and morale.
Most HR professionals will agree that mental and physical wellbeing are equally important. Working in a more relaxed and flexible environment, such as BE Offices’ serviced offices in London, can help alleviate stress, according to research.
A study published in psychology today revealed employees working in an environment with a higher flexibility rate generally suffered less stress and depression than counterparts in a traditional corporate office. The body of research suggests this is because it helps to alleviate the tension associated with rigid schedules and a poor work/life balance.
A serviced office also leads to increased job satisfaction and less stress for people at managerial level, who can concentrate on running the business, rather than the practicalities of renting and maintaining office space.
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