HR professionals are constantly trying to find the effective sauce that drives the bottom line, but in their attempts to keep higher ups happy, they miss out on the secret ingredient of success: their employees.
It’s important to realize that reaching organizational goals is only possible if both employees and employers are on the same page. If success stories of corporations tell us one thing, it’s that success is driven by employee satisfaction; which could also be shown as low turnover in the long run. Modern HR processes will thrive based on technology that blend the flow of information, risk management, human psychology and employee law with the basic purpose of pushing goals for the business.
But in a bid to meet specific organizational goals, employees are forced to miss out on the non-working private time at their offices. A large number of employees believe that their jobs consume such a significant portion of their life that they don’t get any time out for personal obligations.
Not helping things are the use of technology such as smartphones, social networks and enterprise software. Which means that the fine line between personal and professional lives begin to blur. In order to succeed and meet company given objectives, most employees feel it is better to borrow what little personal time they get and devote it to work.
Managers in turn, who have their own massive tasks to meet, expect their employees to be reachable outside of the office through phone and email. And HR professionals have no problems acknowledging this by the sidelines, as they turn a blind eye to the disruptive work-life imbalance.
Understanding Your Employee’s Concerns
Because they don’t get time to do chores around house, spend one-to-one with children or go outside to recuperate after a long day’s work, the toxicity eventually seeps into the otherwise carefully managed mental gymnastics.
But companies and their HR departments are beginning to realize that introducing more flexible work hours actually helps increase productivity in the long run. Companies that invest in workplace flexibility programs are now reporting improved employee morale and as a result, more than a 50% increase in productivity.
The improved work life balance also ties well with increasing retention rates, placing fewer burdens on their recruitment strategies as a result.
Bridging the Disconnect between Employees and HR
Creating the right workplace flexibility program is only possible if HR professional find a way to get their employees talking. This can be achieved by conducting appropriate surveys on employees to try finding out which benefits are most important to them.
Employees in turn, should take up any issues of concern to HR personnel. It never hurts to try finding out unique solutions to each employee such as giving them more ‘work-from-home’ opportunities. This will become an important retention strategy in the years that follow as the newer generations begin to take the mantle of responsibility.
HR personnel interested in wanting to attract more employees will have to focus more on workplace flexibility, but making their job easier is increased globalization and advancement in technology. It’s their attitude to the problem that will fix issues.
Are your HR personnel struggling with day-to-day administrative tasks? Then get in touch with expert consultants at JS Benefits Groups to learn how you can make your employees more productive and increase retention rates.
