Human resources have evolved from a support service role into a strategic partner that is vital to the success of businesses. People-related costs have surpassed revenue as the single largest cost item for most organizations, and it’s up to HR departments to ensure employees are happy and productive in order to create an environment where business can thrive.
One of the most critical roles that HR departments play is in developing a learning culture. The next generation of workers expects to grow their skills, and companies that are able to provide these opportunities will be well ahead of the curve in terms of attracting and retaining talent.
This trend is fueled by the desire to be a part of something bigger than yourself. People want to work for authentic leaders who care about their overall wellbeing. Companies that foster a healthy workplace are better positioned for growth regardless of the economic conditions.
In addition to facilitating learning, HR teams should also focus on providing career progression opportunities. While free lunches and blue-sky projects may be trendy at tech industry giants, Cambridge Consultants has been offering these types of perks for over thirty years to encourage employees to stay committed.
Keeping up with changing employment laws is a full-time job on its own, especially for an HR department that supports multiple locations. Having outdated, piecemeal software systems makes it difficult to comply with regulations, and manual data entry can lead to errors. Choosing a cloud-based, fully integrated HR system can eliminate this problem and reduce the amount of time required to perform basic tasks.
