HR management: How to help your workforce

Working in HR requires a lot of skill, including time-management, organisational qualities and the ability to prioritise. However, above these, good people skills are crucial.

While time-management, organisational qualities and the ability to prioritise a complex workload are all crucial skills HR professionals should possess, they mean very little when they are not paired with sound communication and people skills.

A company's employees have the ability to make or break a business and if their voices aren’t listened to, they are likely to seek employment in an environment that does listen and cares about their needs. With the integration of millennials and Generation Z into the workplace, employee satisfaction is more important than ever before, as younger workers are choosing company values and work environment over how much they will be paid.

This means that HR managers must focus more than ever before on employee satisfaction, company culture and learning and development. Staff want to feel as though they being valued and that they have the ability to progress within their career.

According to Waggl, last year 70.6 per cent of HR professionals ranked “influencing the company culture to have more authentic, people-oriented managers” their top priority. And with huge investment in HR technology taking place, the emergence of people-oriented trends are quickly forming.

Instead of hiding away from trends like virtual reality, gamification and video hiring, HR managers should embrace them with full force, while still focusing on people. Here’s what you can do to help your workforce in this digital age.

Communicate!

Although it's now easier than ever before to communicate with people across the globe, we often do this through a computer screen or other electronic device. But when it comes to HR, face-to-face communication goes a long way and it is something that managers must not forget.

By using real-time engagement, HR professionals can understand workers needs and consider corresponding changes. They are able to see their instant reactions and to see how they really feel about new strategies. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use social communication platforms, as they are great when it comes to interaction between colleagues for feedback, performance and expectations.

Managing performance

Performance reviews are beginning to become a regular part of hiring managers’ roles, with performance management apps making it easier for them to keep track of employees. For example, software like Saba Cloud or Performly enables staff to understand their role in a company’s success, boost productivity and unleash their potential. Other software includes Weekdone or PerformYard.

Alternatively, HR professionals could introduce online assessments to measure the development and performance.

Invest in training

Training staff will always be worth it. Not only does it allow workers to advance in their roles, it also means they are more likely to value the company that offers it to them. HR professionals should ask workers about the areas they want to be trained in so they are engaged and enthusiastic about learning. There’s no point in provide training that will have little impact or employees feel won't be beneficial.

E-learning providers like Virtual College provide courses that include a number of interactive elements, from video collaboration to animated quizzes. Alternatively, courses can be created so they are bespoke to your business, understanding your goals and KPIs.

Wellbeing

Technology can now be used to measure employee wellbeing, engagement and recognition. Apps and other tools can advise workers on how to manage activity so they gain a perfect work-life balance. They are able to measure how well employees take care of their health and how happy they are - factors that are crucial to quality of work and staff retention.

HR managers are also able to check-in on their employees to see how they are coping as well as being given insights on how to boost productivity.