Common HR Mistakes Companies Make
Because we are all only human, even this ‘weakness shows up in our businesses. Here are some of the most common HR mistakes that companies make! The list is by no means exhaustive, but it will clearly give you a few ideas on what not to do!
This contributed article highlights the more common HR mistakes companies make time and time again. I certainly hope that once you get to the end, you can safely say that you are not among the many! Read on.
As a business owner, you have so many matters and issues to contend with on a daily basis. It can be easy to ignore the human resources side of things, especially when things are going smoothly. You need to be proactive when it comes to HR, and you need to recognize and rectify any errors before they become serious issues, which can lead to a lot of expense and a lot of hassle.
With that being said, below we are going to take a look at some of the most common errors businesses make with regard to HR so that you can eliminate them at your company.
Inadequate HR Policies
– There is only one place to begin, and this is with HR policies that are not adequate. You should never overlook the importance of an internal HR audit. Make sure that you set aside time every year to ensure your policies are complete and up-to-date.
Overlooking The Importance Of Training
– One of the biggest investments you can make for the future of your company is training. You should take the time to train your employees for the benefit of your business. Not only does this ensure that your workforce has the skill set that is required to take your company to the top, but it also improves workplace satisfaction.
Employees will feel like there is an opportunity for development and progression within the workplace, and this will increase job satisfaction and loyalty, which consequently will improve your retention rates.
Incomplete Employee Files
– This is another mistake that a lot of business owners make, and it can be very costly. It is vital to keep all of your records up-to-date for compliance reasons. You also need to ensure that the employee performance file contains proper documents.
You will need a separate folder for anything that is personal in nature, for example, disability and leave forms, as these are not related to the performance of an employee and they contain sensitive information.
Hiring The Wrong People For Your HR Department
– The issues you are experiencing could be stemming from the fact that you do not have the right people in your HR team. This often occurs as a consequence of an inefficient hiring process. The best thing to do is work with HR recruitment specialist, Portfolio Group.
This company is a prime example of recruitment professionals that specialize in the field of human resources. Rather than doing things alone or going for a general recruiter, a specialist in the field will already have access to the best pool of talent, and they will know exactly what skills and personality traits are required for the position you have available.
Failure To Document Performance-Related Issues
– With regards to the boundaries that are in place to govern the conduct of your employees, it is likely that you have standard operating procedures and written policies. At least, you should. One error that a lot of businesses make is failing to thoroughly and accurately document whenever a violation occurs.
The main reason why business owners do not do this is quite straightforward; it is time-consuming. Nevertheless, it is a necessity because if someone continues to violate, you will have evidence to back up the termination of his or her employment contract.
Without proper documentation, the worker could file a discrimination claim, and you would have no solid proof to back up the reasons why you thought it was necessary to let the worker go.
An Outdated Employee Handbook
– Another error that needs to be rectified as soon as possible is having an employee handbook that is not up-to-date. If you do not put your most current don’ts and do’s in writing, you are simply asking for trouble.
You need to outline what is deemed acceptable in these guidelines, and you need to address it on a regular basis to ensure that all the details are relevant and accurate.
When compiling your employee handbook, some of the information that needs to be included are guidelines for termination and employment, benefits and compensation, non-discrimination policy, communications policy, and code of conduct.
You Go Global And Your Biggest Concern Is The Legal Part
– Needless to say, when it comes to business, all legal matters are of paramount importance. However, if you are only focusing on this when entering an overseas market, then you are making a big mistake.
You need to consider how you are going to run your company in different cultures, time zones, and countries successfully and simultaneously. You need to think about the impact this is going to have on your employees. You need to think about the integration and communication between your current workforce and remote workers.
Your Employer Branding Is Basically Non-Existent
– Last but not least, have you ever wondered why there are some businesses out there for which almost everyone seems to want to work for, even though they don’t really know the business? Well, this is because they have branded efficiently, and so people already feel like they know the business.
If this does not apply to your company, you are not going about employer branding in the right way, and you need to make sure your firm becomes one of the companies that everyone wants to work for.
So there you have it!
These are some of the most common HR mistakes companies make. If you believe any of these blunders apply to you, take the advice and rectify them so you can give yourself the best chance of getting HR right, ensuring your employees are satisfied and that you do not have any legal headaches along the way.
My Final Thoughts About Common HR Mistakes Companies Make!
Yes, we do not live in a perfect world, however, we can do our best to perfect it!
And, knowing about the most common HR mistakes companies make, helps to solve the problems before they even show up. Of course, this is under the assumption that you, as the business owner, will take action to ensure that your company is prepared.
Yes, it is better to be ‘penny-wise instead of pound-foolish’ as the well-known cliche goes. You can’t afford, literally, to make any business mistake and then plead ignorance. You have to do your research and create your business plans, and then implement based on your findings. This way, you will always feel secure in whatever decision-making process you will go through.
All the best.
Images courtesy of Pixabay, and Pexels.
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4 thoughts to “Common HR Mistakes Companies Make!”
Hi Michelle, Reading this made me remember what it was like when I had companies with employees, and the HR responsibilities that go with it. It made me very thankful that my currrent business is so simple, no employees, some GC’s like an IT person when needed. It is good to be able to rely on the one person I know really cares how my company goes – me!
People interested in having a business like that will do well to check into Wealthy Affiliate as you suggest here!
Thanks for stopping by, Annie. Yes, the corporate life is nothing compared to owning and running your business – of course, unless you get
‘too big for your britches’ as the cliche goes. I am glad that the article resonated with you. All the best in your latest endeavor.
Michelle
Exactly what is meant by employee branding and how would you make it more efficient? Are you talking handing out coffee mugs or television advertising? If you could elborate, that would be great!
Hello William,
Thanks for your visit. Yes, employer branding does refer to your company’s logo, the underlying theme of business (niche specialization), and such things that give the company a sense of authority in their business. Handing out coffee mugs and such the like are just other promotional marketing tactics to help brand your company by seeing the company name just about everywhere!
I hope this helped provide the answer to your question.
All the best.
Michelle