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What Has Changed With HR Practices In 2021? (H1)
Much has been discussed about the seismic shift in businesses ever since the pandemic. There are also rapid changes happening in Human Resources. The after effects of 2020 have permanently modified employee expectations, forcing businesses to rethink their HR strategies. While several universal HR practices will remain unaltered, some new changes are vital to adapt to the modern work style.
Let's check out some of the HR practices making waves in 2021. Any flexible organization will reflect these changes and gear up to make the workplace conducive for the future workforce.
Exploring 10 HR Practices That Promise Organizational Growth(H2)
We agree that every business has unique HR requirements that cater to its niche industry. That said, the objectives of most HR practices are the same: to ensure a happy workforce and gain maximum ROI. We recommend following these ten HR practices if you also want to enhance your business processes.
1. Make onboarding your training platform
The shift in HR practices is evident right from the recruiting and onboarding processes. Weak onboarding processes are fast dying out because they cause a massive employee turnover. In 2021, you require a clear-cut onboarding process. All preliminary paperwork regarding the important forms and documents should be done before the recruit's first day of work. Optimize your onboarding period to train your new staff, irrespective of their previous experience and knowledge. This training period gives you enough time to assess how they acclimatize themselves to your business culture and expectations. Initial training is an investment and a solution for employee retention.
2. Adopt absolute transparency in the management
All your employees should be well-informed about your new clients, company policies, new management objectives, etc. Without divulging this vital information, business leaders cannot expect complete cooperation from their workforce. Some tech tools like employee self-service portals and manager online facilitate open management. When the management is open, it easily aligns the employees with your business goals.
3. Have open communication channels
Most of your staff may be working remotely at the moment. Now, more than ever, open communication and transparency are essential to their success. During times like this, businesses will suffer from unforeseen issues if there is no proper communication. Your HR team should opt for the right tech solutions like Zoom, Google Meet, Slack, or Discord to facilitate easy communication and collaboration.
4. Ensure employee productivity
If recruiting and retaining are major HR goals, so is managing and tracking employee performance. Whether they are in-house or remote workers, tracking employee productivity is a lifeline that cannot be overlooked. By implementing employee monitoring software, business leaders can ensure that every employee is on the right track. The practice can gently persuade staff to stay focused and optimize their work time. Using the technology, your staff can better manage office hours and take timely breaks. Employee monitoring is one of the top HR practices of 2021, and if you haven't adopted it yet, it is time to do so.
5. Reward your employees at the right time
When you know your employees perform better and have served your company long enough, it is time to upgrade them with the right remuneration. Wages and employee benefits are the top reasons for employee retention, apart from job satisfaction. Some benefits like paying unemployment taxes, compliance with rules, and contributing to disability programs cannot be ignored by the management.
However, employees tend to lean towards employers who are generous with fringe benefits. Flexible work hours, paid leave, unlimited PTO or Paid Time Off, paid parental leave, in-office entertainment, nursery for children, etc., are some of the preferred fringe benefits.
6. Recognize your outstanding employees
A little recognition goes a long way. Remember that your employee is working for the growth of your company as well as his career. Highlighting an employee who made a difference to your organization will keep them motivated. Here's how you can recognize hard-working employees without seeming biased or unfair:
Include all those on your payroll under this practice.
Create an award with an attractive name.
Make the person eligible for surprise gifts and perks.
Make a charitable donation on their behalf.
Highlight their achievement on an announcement board.
Have a consistent pattern for your employees to track.
7. Adopt flexible workflows and patterns
Offering flexible work opportunities will be the most prioritized HR practice for all businesses in 2021. Remote working will be in practice for many more years to come. A survey states that 73% of the employees would like to continue working from home even when the pandemic ends. However, there is a minority of workers who wish to get back to their normal work routines. Hence businesses must consider adopting flexible work patterns to make things more convenient for all employees.
8. Embrace automation to stay relevant
Statistics reveal that by 2022, 43% of companies will use AI-based solutions in HR strategies. This fact is evident from the millions of dollars invested in automating HR processes such as:
Recruitment
Onboarding
Payroll Management
PTO management
Time tracking
There are a plethora of digital tools like employee time tracking software specifically designed to enhance the efficiency of HR practices. Take expert advice to pick the right software for your HR department.
9. Practice fair evaluation of performance
Create an evaluation system that links individual employee performance to your business goals and priorities. A yearly evaluation process with self-evaluation and cross-functional feedback fosters fairness and transparency in your HR strategies. Self-evaluation processes help your staff identify their strength and weaknesses and empowers them to stay focused.
10. Be fair in bidding adieu
You may have any number of reasons to fire an employee from their job. What you do demonstrates your organization's ability to look beyond rigid HR practices. The termination policies you implement should be honest and fair. If you terminate a worker unfairly, you may harm your reputation as an employer and instill unrest in the minds of existing employees. Termination often requires delicate handling. The person has a right to express their opinions or prove themselves.
It is only fair that all employees are given a chance to be heard before they are dismissed. Fairness in termination is a fundamental best practice that needs to be in practice beyond 2021.
A Final Few Words(H3)
Aspects like hiring, training, productivity, performance, remuneration may change for the better in 2021. Flexible work opportunities will probably be a top priority. Businesses are already implementing HR policies that are conducive for employees in these unpredictable times. Safety in the workplace will also be a critical HR practice. New safety protocols and procedures will be established to prioritize your employees' safety.
These HR practices will help organizations prepare for future trends and changes and optimize their strategies. They are proven solutions to make your workplace the best it can be in 2021 and beyond.
Author Bio:
Uma Aravind is an Outreach Analyst at HRAPP, and she blogs about careers and leadership. Since 2010, she has been blogging about recruitment, hiring, performance management, leadership development, etc., which are some of the topics that interest her most in today’s corporate world. It’s her goal to help prepare others for success through her writing and wishes to share knowledge and information with them.
https://www.facebook.com/uma.aravind.7
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