HR Insights

 As an HR professional, you know that the facets within this field are extensive. There are so many components that make up the HR world, so when it comes to professional development opportunities, you want to make sure you carefully select the best option for you. It’s hard to believe it, but we are nearing the end of 2017, which means it’s time to start gearing up for 2018. What better way to plan for your new year at work than by registering for a professional development conference? There are a lot of conferences to choose from, so I’ve selected some of the crucial conferences you need to attend in the upcoming year.

Everyone needs an extra measure of motivation to give them that energy boost they need to get through the work week. Perhaps we all need a little extra inspiration to get us through open enrollment, even more than other weeks. Whether you need a little dose of encouragement to stay the course or fresh, insightful perspective, these 25 inspirational quotes can help get you and your employees through this open enrollment week and beyond!

When things get busy (and when aren’t things busy?!), it’s far too easy for employees and managers alike to coast through their work weeks and maintain the status quo. But perhaps this maintenance of the status quo is an indicator of a deeper issue – a lack of employee engagement. Statistics have shown that most people are unhappy at work. In 2013, even in a climate of business uncertainty and an unemployment rate of 7.8 percent, more than 2 million Americans were voluntarily leaving their jobs every month. So, how can you get employees to stay? And how likely are your employees to leave? As a manager, you need to be aware of some shocking research.

Most companies have an annual enrollment period. This is an important window of time during which employees can make adjustments to their benefits package for the upcoming year. Important as this period is, and valuable as it can be, many times employees have trouble staying engaged in the annual benefits presentations. This is useful information that you don’t want them to miss. How can you make these presentations more engaging and fun for your employees?

Open enrollment can be a stressful time for HR professionals, but it doesn’t have to be. A little preparation goes a long way. Putting in the time to create clear, engaging communication can work wonder for your employees. Consider the findings from “What Your Employees Think About Your Benefits Communication: Research from Jellyvision Conducted by Harris Poll”, a 2016 survey with some surprising facts:

It’s no secret that email is the default mode of communication in most companies. When it comes to informing your employees about open enrollment, emailing them is fast, convenient, and ideally, efficient. But how can you make sure your emails are going to actually be read? Just as emails are fast, convenient, and efficient for you to send out, they need to be the same for your employees to read. Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of emailing your employees during open enrollment.

Health coaching in the workplace can help to transform not only individual lives but the company culture as a whole. Helping people to achieve personal wellness goals at work can help them to feel personally connected to the organization. By turning the focus away from the bottom line as the final goal, impact and staff engagement become the indicator. This allows for a new or reintroduced program to become a collaborative mission for all, where employees become supported people. It’s easier for employees to feel engaged at work when they are able to be confident that their company cares about their personal wellbeing.

Conducting employee engagement surveys is a great way for you to assess your employees’ mental state regarding their commitment to the organization, their coworkers, and their own development within the company. By guaranteeing employees anonymity within their survey responses, you can glean useful information that you can use to make your organization stronger.

The benefit packages that companies offer employees are not one-size-fits-all. Now that the majority of the workforce is comprised of millennials, it’s time to look at what benefits millennials value most and how they may differ from their professional colleagues’. Studies show that millennials understand less about their benefits and, therefore, are less engaged in what their benefits actually cover. It's critical to provide millennial employees with accessible, understandable options and allow them to personalize their benefits.

Companies want to see efficiency and top results from every department and every employee, which means employee engagement is more important than ever. What is employee engagement? Here’s the simple definition: People want to come to work, understand their jobs, and know how their work contributes to the success of the organization. But how do you know if your employees are engaged? And is it really that important? Yes, it is! Let’s take a look at five of the most awesome benefits that come along with having engaged employees at your company.