Is It Time for a Serious Shakeup in Your HR Department?

Is It Time for a Serious Shakeup in Your HR Department?

Is your HR department ready for a shakeup? That’s the view of one Forbes contributor who says that most HR departments are ready for massive change.

The premise behind the claim is this: The HR department is often the one that stays stagnant in their standard modes of operation. This department rarely sees significant change.

Still, it’s the HR department that get hands on with all employees. This is the department that interacts with every single person you interview, hire and fire. It’s the one that gathers the bulk of the employee feedback and handles sensitive situations.

Why Fix Something That Isn’t Broken?

Many companies resist change in the HR department because their current methods aren’t broken. The same policies and procedures that worked years ago are still working today. Why shake things up when things seem to be running smoothly as is?

The problem with this philosophy is, it’s only coming from top managers and executives. These are the people rooted in habit. Making a change or shaking things up would be burdensome, uncomfortable and potentially difficult.

Employees see things differently.

New employees come into the business with a fresh set of eyes. If your business hires younger employees, particularly those in the Millennial generation, they might not be used to static ways of managing schedules, conflict or the workplace environment. These are the team members who you need to please.

As Forbes contributor Jacob Morgan touts, it’s time to change HR to create a workplace where employees want to show up. Here are a few suggestions we have for how to make this happen.

Nix the Old Job Titles

One of the easiest changes you can make today is to nix the old job titles. Instead of hiring human resources managers, opt for something a little more specific, such as “Chief Experience Officer” or “Talent Manager.”

By changing up a person’s title into something more fun and better defined, you make the entire department more approachable. Your employees feel more like you’re there working for them. It’s easier to get their feedback and have them open up to you about what would make your workplace more enjoyable.

Create New Modes of Communication

Another way to make your office a better place to work is to create new methods where employees can communicate.

Some employees only feel comfortable opening up over email. Others prefer the in-person dialogue. By creating multiple ways for gathering feedback, you’re sure to hear from everyone in your company instead of only those who feel most at ease with the current method.

Incorporate Technology

An increasing amount of the workforce is demanding better technology in the workplace. Millennials in particular like to have access to apps and tools to make their jobs easier. Use scheduling software to manage flexible scheduling options. Find tools to deliver more and better employee performance feedback. No matter what type of technology you incorporate, it’s important you do so to help your employees stay efficient and productive.

Are you ready to shake things up in your HR department?

It might seem like a bold move but every small step forward could make a big difference in retaining top talent and increasing your overall company morale.

Author Profile Jon Forknell is the Vice President and General Manager of Atlas Business Solutions, Inc., a software marketing company specializing in employee scheduling software, including ScheduleBase employee scheduling software, and other business software solutions. In the past, Jon has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Atlas Business Solutions was named as one of Software Magazine’s Top 500 Software Companies in 2004 through 2007 and again in 2010, 2013 and 2014.