HR Insights

 The rise of technology and the digitization of many aspects of business have led to some dramatic changes in the workplace as we know it. As technology continues to progress, the workplace is an ever-changing environment. The future of the workplace is about the future of people. As we change – as we become increasingly dependent on mobile devices and as we work faster and become less tolerant of inefficient processes and technologies – we expect changes in the workplace. Start now to build the workplace of the future—one that is efficient, offers a flexible schedule, and is employee-centric.

 Having a strategic plan for your organization is a crucial element, but these long-term plans do not create themselves. They require a lot of hard work and time to be developed and implemented—a task that largely falls to the HR department. Without a roadmap, strategic planning could be a waste of time, or even worse, lead to poor results. Developing a strategic plan is a good way to show other organizational departments the importance and unique contributions of the HR department. It allows you to shape the expectations that your organization holds for what you will contribute and when.

 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.

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?

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.