`The human resource department is the lifeline of any major business. This one department is responsible for maintaining employee relations, communicating changes between employees and management staff, and ensuring that all employees have the necessary tools to effectively complete their work. That is a lot of labour to put on just one department, and it seems that the list of HR duties is only growing as we move further into the modern age.
Some parts of the business have become obsolete in recent years; however, the duties of the human resources department are increasing. Every office needs to ensure that they are up to speed with modern business practices, so what exactly should your Hr staff be doing in the 21st century?
Employee Feedback Routines
A business will only function correctly if everyone in the office is content. Unfortunately, management can sometimes create rules or set up projects that do not fit within the current capabilities of your employees. These mistakes are made out of ignorance rather than malice, of course, but it can be difficult for employees to speak up about said mistakes.
That is why your HR department should offer employees a means to provide feedback on such issues. They can host regular one-on-one meetings or provide a database for anonymous feedback so that managers can respond accordingly. Your HR team needs to act as the voice for your employees, so make sure that they have the tools to do so.
Mental Health Facilities
Mental health is a common concern in the modern workplace. However, not every manager has the resources to fully understand the complexities that accompany specific illnesses such as anxiety or depression. Fortunately, it is not their job.
Every business is now responsible for asserting the importance of mental health, and your human resources team should have the tools necessary to care for the employees at risk. They can start by setting up a support system for those that need it, but it is also important to conduct regular back to work meetings with employees that take time off due to mental illness. This process helps your team understand more about the individual’s condition, and it can also teach them how to deal with mental health overall moving forward.
Onboarding
The ability to hire new employees is a sign that your business is growing successfully; however, these individuals are going to struggle to adjust to their new work environment. These struggles could end up costing you time and money, but it is not the fault of the individual. It can be difficult to find a rhythm in a new office, which is why onboarding software is crucial for your HR department.
Onboarding software allows your human resource team to contact any new hires before their start date to bring them up to speed on anything they will need to know before they start work. They can answer any questions the recruit may have and provide a full map of the building and services, so the employee is fully prepared to start their job the second they enter the building.
Outplacement
Unfortunately, some circumstances may result in you having to make some staff members redundant. This is an unpleasant experience for all involved; however, you can make the situation easier by providing your HR team with outplacement services.
Outplacing services from a company like Randstad RiseSmart allows your HR team to assist redundant employees find a job where they can continue to utilise their skills. Therefore, the employee gets to move on to further employment while your business adheres to the ethics that are attached to employee redundancy procedures.
Expense Management Tools
The ins and outs of your company’s finances are not something your average employee needs to concern themselves with. However, there may be times when they need to make purchases on behalf of the company, and it is your responsibility to reimburse these transactions in full. With so many employees using the company bank account, how can you be sure that they all receive the money that they are owed?
The answer to this question comes in the form of expense management tools. You can give your HR team a unified credit card account that is available to all staff. Your HR team can then reliably track every expense and pay back your staff without sifting through hundreds of receipts or chasing up individual members of staff. What’s more, this process helps to give you peace of mind as you can monitor every penny that leaves your business account to prevent fraud.
Summary
While business technology is hurtling forward, there is still no substitute for a reliable human resource team. Make sure that your HR team is equipped with the tools above, and you can bring your business into the modern age with ease.