When finalizing your HR plans for 2015, keep in mind: How will your company define success?
Having the right team in place, working toward a common set of goals, is critical to overall business success. And in several key areas, it will be a whole new world in this New Year.
Take Engagement to New Heights
If you completed an employee engagement survey in Q3 or Q4 of 2014, good for you. If not, make it your top priority in 2015.
- Act promptly and visibly when survey results come back. If you don’t, the entire effort will backfire as employees become disengaged or decide to leave all together. Make sure results drive related budget decisions.
- Use your data. Develop a set of specific plans and realize change actions in a timely fashion. Test the pulse of your workforce throughout the process.
Consider an Employee Incentive Program
An incentive program allows you to visibly track ROI improvements. It enables you to drive long-term, sustainable behavior changes that support business goals. As you do so, you motivate, recognize and reward the people who mean the most to your company.
- With an incentive system, you can launch an employee referral program. This bolsters effective talent acquisition and helps build a culture of loyalty and retention.
Meet Obamacare Head On
The employer mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, takes effect in 2015 for companies with more than 100 employees. While many specifics of the program remain uncertain, some clear trends have emerged as a result of its introduction.
- High-deductible health plans (HDHP) are challenging employers. You need to understand their nuances as you seek the right balance in shifting costs to employees. Along with HDHPs will come increasing use of voluntary benefit plans, providing first-dollar coverage for unexpected healthcare costs before deductibles are met. These plans require education on the part of both employees and employers.
- Start – or grow – your wellness program. The Employee Benefit Research Institute Reports that nearly 36 percent of employers plan to add wellness programs in 2015. As well as being a path to a healthier, more productive workforce, they offer a popular employee benefit. Today’s wellness programs feature the use of personal devices such as smartphones or fitness trackers that provide metrics ranging from exercise and motion to sleep patterns.
Embrace Your Multigenerational Team
2015 is the year of the Millennial, as this generation of employees becomes the workforce majority and the youngest Baby Boomers celebrate their 50th birthdays. More than 100,000 Americans are currently retiring every month. Your ongoing challenge is to preserve and share their skillsets and complete a successful intergenerational knowledge transfer.
- Attitudes toward flex time and telecommuting have changed. These are high priorities, especially among Millennials who value them, often above compensation. Regardless of employees’ birthdates, more emphasis is being placed on work/life balance. You can boost morale while maintaining productivity by exploring these options.
- In today’s information age, many more jobs lend themselves to remote work. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) notes that the number of employers offering work-from-home options rose from 34 percent in 2005 to 63 percent in 2012.
It looks like an exciting – and perhaps slightly daunting – year ahead for HR professionals.
Do you need an expert HR partner as you stay ahead of the ever-changing business curve?
Contact the PrideStaff Fresno team today. We can help make it your best year ever!