Highlights
- HR teams need more time to focus on strategic tasks, like creating a strong onboarding process or offering competitive employee benefits packages.
- Human Capital Management (HCM) Software can save businesses valuable time spent on tasks like processing payroll and tracking time and assistance.
- SBS Payroll provides customized payroll and HR services for US companies that need to improve their processes.
As we step into a new year, businesses are gearing up for growth. Nurturing a productive and engaged workforce is key to thriving. But how can you achieve that? Defining your HR best practices might be a good way to set the ball rolling.
From rethinking your processes — whether that means adding automating tools or outsourcing payroll processing — to designing competitive benefits packages to attract and retain talent, your company probably has some serious planning to do.
In this blog post, we’ll explore 5 HR best practices that can significantly impact your business success this year and provide actionable tips to bring them to your workplace.
Let’s dive in!
1 – Ensure a Smooth Onboarding Process for New Hires
We all know that first impressions matter. Yet many companies fail to provide strong onboarding experience.
Only 12% of U.S. employees say their company does a good job of onboarding
– Gallup
An effective onboarding process introduces new employees to your workplace culture, prepares them for the new role, and kickstarts their journey in your company.
In industries like manufacturing or construction, where absenteeism and turnover rates can be a big problem, a well-crafted onboarding program can lead to more engaged and committed employees.
Here are some ideas to strengthen your onboarding process this year:
- Assign a mentor or buddy to help new employees navigate their initial days, fostering a sense of connection from the start.
- Provide self-paced online training courses. Introduce employees to the company’s mission, vision, and key policies in an engaging multimedia format. Include training from industry experts about tools and specific knowledge for their role.
- Feedback loops & employee development. Set up regular feedback sessions during the first few months to address new employees’ concerns or questions. Clearly outline the paths for career progression to encourage employees to stay with you for the long term.
2 – Stay on Top of Compliance Requirements for your Business
Navigating employment laws and regulations is a critical aspect of HR. Compliance requests vary across industries and involve areas like anti-corruption, IT security, and data protection.
For small HR teams, keeping up with rapidly changing legislation might be a challenge but it’s extremely important to avoid costly fines and penalties.
64% of small business HR managers don’t think they have adequate time and resources to meet the increasing challenges to HR compliance
– Upcounsel
Staying compliant not only protects your company but also keeps your employees safe, creating a positive work environment.
Here’s how to approach compliance this year:
- Regular compliance audits. Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws. Stay informed of any changes in legislation that may impact your business and make sure to update policies accordingly.
- Training programs. Implement ongoing training programs for HR staff and managers to stay up to date with compliance requirements. Provide employees with accessible resources and training to understand their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
- ACA compliance. To stay on top of Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements, companies need to collect and manage a large amount of data, as well as regularly report information about the health insurance coverage they offer to employees.
3 – Integrate a Payroll Solution to Reduce Errors and Save Time
A payroll solution can save your HR team valuable time, reduce errors, and ensure that your company complies with tax regulations.
By choosing a seasoned partner to handle your payroll-related tasks, you alleviate your HR team from tedious administrative tasks and allow them to focus on more strategic initiatives.
But payroll is not just ensuring that your employees get paid on time. It also has to do with other HR tasks like calculating benefits and tracking time and assistance. With HCM (human capital management) software, you can handle all these tasks effectively, saving you very valuable time.
HR automation cuts payroll processing costs by 80% and reduces errors in invoices and paychecks
– American Payroll Association
Consider this when searching for a payroll solution:
- Do your research. Research and select a payroll service provider with a proven track record and positive client testimonials. Ensure the provider is equipped to handle the complexities of payroll taxes across multiple states.
- Integration with HR Software. Go for a payroll solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing HR software. Integration reduces manual data entry, minimizes errors, and enhances overall efficiency.
- Consider your industry and specific needs. Every business is unique, so you should prioritize choosing a partner offering customized solutions. From union reporting to complex tax filings, your payroll solution should cover all bases.
4 – Automate Time & Attendance Tracking
Managing your employees’ time and attendance effectively is crucial — and for many reasons. Not only increases productivity but also guarantees accurate payroll processing.
With an automated solution to track time and attendance, you can speed up these processes while ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Keep this in mind when setting up your time and attendance tracking system:
- Implement automated systems. Invest in automated time and attendance systems to reduce errors associated with manual tracking. Ensure that these systems integrate seamlessly with your payroll and HR software.
- Flexible scheduling options. Flexible work arrangements are a top priority for employees seeking a healthier work-life balance. Make sure your tracking system has options to accommodate diverse employee needs while maintaining accountability through clear performance metrics.
- Regular training in timekeeping procedures. Provide regular training to employees and managers on timekeeping procedures and the proper use of time-tracking tools. Establish clear policies regarding overtime, breaks, and time-off requests to avoid misunderstandings.
5 – Provide a Competitive Employee Benefits Package
Competitive employee benefits play a crucial role in attracting and retaining top talent.
Understanding your workforce’s unique needs can help you design an employee benefits package that truly accommodates their preferences and lifestyles.
Are you rethinking your company’s benefits this year? Keep this in mind:
- Wellness Programs. Promote a healthy workplace with yoga classes, stress reduction programs, gym memberships, and other wellness initiatives.
- Retirement plans. Provide robust retirement plan options to support employees in planning for their future. Communicate the value of contributing to retirement plans and offer financial education to help employees make informed decisions about their long-term financial well-being.
As the workplace evolves, it’s important to review your HR best practices, to make sure they stay aligned with employee expectations and your business goals. You can also consider bringing new technology to the workplace to help you speed up some of your most time-consuming HR tasks.
At SBS Payroll we provide a full suite of payroll and HR solutions for companies across the US, particularly those based in Los Angeles and Southern California. Through our Human Capital Management (HCM) software, we handle payroll, benefits, and time and assistance for you, so you can focus on your core business.
Contact us to learn more about our HR services and how we can help you improve your processes and keep a productive workforce in sync with your HR best practices!
