Human resources professionals face challenges in the workplace that require preparation and dedication to make everything run smoothly. These challenges tend to change over time, as it is common for the workplace dynamic to evolve over the years.
Here are five HR challenges that companies are likely to encounter throughout 2015, and what your HR department can do about them.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Security
BYOD allows your employees to bring smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices into work. For companies who don't want to provide separate work cell phones or devices, this is often a more convenient and cost-effective form of communication. If these devices are used to assist in the completion of work tasks, however, they can pose a threat to the security of company information.
The solution is BYOD security, which can help safeguard company data on employees' personal phones. This means that HR managers must limit accessibility to information via mobile devices in the workplace and ensure that this information stays within the company. BYOD security measures may be unpopular, with some employees believing that their right to privacy has been breached because their personal devices are being watched.
What to do: Sit employees down and educate them about the security issues your company faces. You can point to the numerous cyber security breaches in 2014, and what they meant for the employees of the companies they effected (many had deeply personal and economic information leaked). Also explain in detail what the BYOD security does and how it does not record or monitor personal use of the phone, simply the company data.
Employee Referrals and Social Recruiting
The rise of social media has made many things more convenient, including recruiting. Recruiters can now reach the widest audience possible for a job position by posting it to social media hubs such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter—and even some other, more surprising social media websites. The need for social recruiting makes it more important than ever that businesses maintain a strong, positive online presence. Although as many as 73% of recruiters planned to increase investments in social media recruiting last year, 82% believe their skills in social recruiting are proficient or less than proficient, according to Jobvite.
What to do: If you're not already taking advantage of social media sites to recruit, 2015 should be your year to invest time and resources into bringing your recruiting tactics into the modern world. If you're a small company, you can even start with your employees' social profiles. Encourage them to post about job openings and corporate events and you can have built in social recruiters and referrals.
Changing Health Laws
One of the biggest challenges companies face today is complying with changing health laws. Employers are now mandated to provide their employees with health plans if they have 50 employees or more, and employers that fail to comply with requirements will be fined. While smaller businesses may not have to provide health benefits, there are tax incentives to do so. HR managers may be able to take advantage of these benefits for the business while attracting a better employee base to the company.
What to do: As an HR professional, you should know about the issues that affect your field—and those include healthcare. 2015 is the year that many of the provisions of the healthcare law begin to take place. Know what will happen, your company's stance on it, and the details so that you can explain each to employees and candidates who are rightfully curious.
Increased Prevalence of Millennials in the Workplace
By 2020, millennials will make up 46% of the U.S. workforce. While generational changes are always difficult to adapt to, the millennial generation is much bigger than the rest, with close to 80 million young adults. Each generation requires changes in business and, especially, in HR. Millennials tend to have a positive attitude about building a career, but unrealistic financial compensation expectations could be an issue. Millennials also tend crave flexibility, so HR professionals are tasked with the challenge of giving hardworking millennials a reason to stay.
What to do: Learn as much as you can about millennial expectations from the workplace. It's a wide group, and workers will vary, but the more you know, the more you can anticipate and adapt to the millennial worker's personality.
Increased Use of Software in the Hiring Process
If you aren't using some type of HR or recruiting software, you're behind in 2015. Software can help streamline the process, but it's important for businesses to choose the right tech tools. It may be necessary for hiring managers to consult with a software manufacturer to determine how they can use software to streamline the process instead of complicating it.
What to do: Do some research on the types of software you could use to help, and not hurt, your HR department. Whether it's niche software or overall automation, it could help you become more efficient this year.
What challenges do you think your business will face this year?
Katherine Wood is Managing Editor at Talent Tribune, a data-driven HR blog powered by Software Providers. Talent Tribune covers news and updates on jobs, recruiting, talent management, and technology for HR pros and job seekers alike. Want to contact Katherine? Send comments, questions, and other ideas to katherine@softwareproviders.com.
