Building Better Workplaces: The Employer’s Guide To HR Excellence

Modern organizations cannot exist without strong HR. The Human Resources department deals not only with hiring and payroll; it is shaping the employee experience and building a favorable working environment. Research shows that companies with effective HR strategies are 3.5 times more likely to outperform their competitors. When HR gets it right, it boosts morale, productivity, and retention. So, how to do it right? Let’s explore effective HR strategies that help businesses grow.

What makes the workplace great?

• Flexible schedule. People value the ability to choose remote work mode or flexible hours.
• Employee perks. These include various recognition programs, social events, and development opportunities.
• Diversity and inclusion. Everyone should feel valued, no matter what the occupied position is.
• Technology adoption. Modern tools automate many routine processes and improve the employee experience. They can also help to facilitate communication, for example by using a live chat platform to talk with your team.
• Well-being programs. These are various initiatives that support employee physical and mental health.

Key HR strategies for building a better workplace.

Approach recruitment and selection wisely.

Think about employee engagement.

• Introduce employee recognition and rewards. Make a rule to celebrate your employee achievements. It can be done in different ways – through awards, shoutouts in meetings, or small perks. Studies show that recognition increases employee engagement by 69%.
• Conduct employee surveys and gather feedback. There are multiple tools for this purpose. For instance, an AI survey generator can create a dynamic employee survey in less than a minute. Knowing what your team thinks about their work allows you to improve. Besides, it creates a culture of openness and enables employers to address issues proactively.
• Cultivate a positive culture at work. Team-building activities bring excellent results. Don’t hesitate to devote some working time to these activities – your employee will fully compensate for it by higher productivity.

Optimize performance management.

• Set clear performance expectations. Your employees must understand their roles and goals. Written job descriptions and KPIs can help set the stage.
• Review regular performance regularly. Schedule quarterly or biannual reviews to provide constructive feedback. When feedback is regular, employees feel valued and motivated to improve.
• Create a plan for improvement. The previous steps will identify who of your team needs support. Offer mentorship or additional training to help them catch up.

Offer learning and development opportunities.

• Invest in training and development. Provide access to workshops, certifications, and e-learning platforms. According to LinkedIn’s 2023 Workforce Report, 94% of employees say they would stay longer at companies that invest in learning.
• Mentorship programs. Pair senior employees with newer team members to promote knowledge sharing and career development. Additionally, allow your staff members to try out different roles and duties at the business, such as assisting with event photography or participating in cross-departmental projects.

Make compensation and benefits a part of the employment package.

Make employee wellness one of your priorities.

• Offer wellness programs. Introduce initiatives like yoga classes, gym memberships, or stress management workshops. Mental health resources, such as counseling services, can also make a big difference.
• Encourage work-life balance. Offer generous PTO policies and encourage employees to unplug after hours. This prevents burnout and maintains productivity.

The role of technology in HR

Test BambooHR or Workday. Bamboo HR is simple and effective for time-off and reports, and Workday is excellent for larger organizations needing detailed analytics.

• Meeting scheduling tools. Streamlining the coordination of meetings can significantly improve productivity and reduce time wasted on back-and-forth emails. A reliable meeting scheduling tool helps HR teams efficiently manage interviews, team discussions, and training sessions, ensuring better time management across the organization.

A reliable meeting scheduling tool like Calendesk or Calendly helps HR teams efficiently manage interviews, team discussions, and training sessions.

• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Finding the right talent is faster with ATS. These tools screen resumes and schedule interviews better and faster than humans.

Platforms such as Greenhouse and Jobvite make recruitment easier and faster. They sort out resumes, send automated messages and schedule interviews. Greenhouse creates smooth candidate experiences, and Jobvite can be synced with social media for wider outreach.

• Learning Management Systems (LMS). Online training tools help employees upskill anytime, anywhere, and HR can monitor progress and impact.

You may try Cornerstone and TalentLMS. Cornerstone offers in-depth analytics and customization, and TalentLMS is user-friendly and mobile-friendly software for remote teams.

• Employee Engagement Platforms. These tools improve communication, allow feedback, and cultivate a collaborative work culture. To maximize the impact of these tools, employee engagement training can prepare HR teams and managers to interpret insights and act on them effectively.

Software like 15Five and Officevibe is excellent for collecting employee feedback. 15Five will help you track goals, and Officevibe measures team morale and offers helpful suggestions.

For example, a company using an ATS can reduce time-to-hire by 40%, according to industry reports. HRIS systems have proved to cut administrative costs by 30% on average.

These tools help HR professionals minimize manual tasks and devote more time to strategic initiatives.

Wrapping up