The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on business as it is responsible for shifting priorities and changing the way we work. The findings from our recent survey helped us understand what HR pain points and challenges professionals face in their daily lives, which will help guide future changes within this industry.
BRI conducted an extensive research project among 1000+ hiring managers to discover pain points they deal with day by day. These insights are crucial if you want your company or organization’s performance goals met!
Are you looking for tips and tricks to overcome your Human Resource challenges and pain points? Download our guide, Navigating the Road Blocks Facing Today’s Human Resource Professionals, to get started.
Priorities for Human Resources & Employee Benefits
With the pandemic, businesses have been impacted across all industries, and HR departments have faced their fair share of challenges. The number one priority for HR teams is undoubtedly “Managing Cost Increases”. Despite implementing many cost-curbing measures, premiums have gone up an average of 49% over the past seven years. This may not be a surprise, considering it’s been a primary focus since at least 2010, when premiums started skyrocketing again following several decades of stability.
Managing cost increases can be challenging, but the underlying health plan will often be the key to reducing your costs. Position your benefits plans and the opportunities, so employees pay for their increasing out-of-pocket costs. This can be achieved by offering a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA), taking advantage of Self-Funded Plans, sharing educational tools, like MyMedicalShopper by Talon Health Tech, that provide cost transparency, or connecting employees to health experts.
Workforce planning is an important topic for employers to address. Evaluate the constantly changing work environment and how it will affect your business. Permanent remote employees or full-time telecommuting cases need careful consideration before deciding what approach fits best. With the rise in remote work, companies must address how they will incorporate this new model into their business plan moving forward while also considering if there should be more full-time or hybrid employees on staff for flexibility purposes.
Mental health is increasingly critical, and mental illness is a serious problem in America. The percentage of adults who experience at least one form of mental illness has increased by 6% over the last two years and continues to rise. HR professionals can modernize their business while adding new support for employees by updating the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Employees are tired of feeling like they’re being ignored and having no one able or willing to help them with this ever-increasing workload. Still, Human Resources can be on the front lines in providing better systems that alleviate stress, add value, etc., by ensuring every employee has what they need when it matters most.
Talent acquisition and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are directly tied to company culture and employee happiness. The best way for companies to retain employees is by creating a welcoming culture, all types of people, and offers equal opportunities. In addition, DEI can help maintain mental health in the workplace because it provides workers with community support for issues that may contribute to feeling lonely at times.
The expansion of benefits for employees can provide the flexibility employees look for. No one can predict what they need or want when it comes to employees. That’s why you should give them a benefits package that caters to their specific needs and enhances the overall experience. It can help them be more productive with their work and make sure that you stick out as an establishment that cares about its people!
Challenges to Success
Employees’ needs have changed; companies need to adapt to keep their workforce intact. Employers today are finding it harder to maintain employee satisfaction and engagement. Employees now expect more from their jobs regarding flexible work arrangements, continual learning opportunities, and social connectivity. If a company can’t provide these benefits, employees are quick to find work elsewhere.
So how can employers stay ahead of the curve? The best way to start is by looking at your company’s benefits package. Are you offering flexible work arrangements? Adapting to employees changing needs can be difficult, but it’s vital if you want to maintain a successful business. By reassessing your benefits package and making some changes, you can ensure that your employees are satisfied and engaged. And that’s good for both your company and your employees!
The Secret to Succeeding in Human Resources
Success in any job boils down to effective communication and time management. HR professionals are often juggling many different tasks and responsibilities. If they can prioritize their work effectively, the time will fly by. With so many things, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or lose sight of what needs to be done when; however, with some focus, you’ll soon find yourself invaluable as an indispensable member of any team! HR professionals also know that one of the most important times to communicate is during open enrollment. This period offers employees many opportunities for growth and development, which means it’s also an ideal time when you can engage your team to better serve them both now and later on down the line!
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