The future is flexible. Traditional business models have fallen by the wayside in exchange for startups with global teams of entrepreneurs and work-life balance.
All of these changes convalesce into a need for HR departments and professionals to adapt and evolve. Here are some considerations and trends that contribute to HR flexibility for the growing company.
HR From Day One
One of the challenges startups face is the lack of foresight for HR from the company's conception. In reality, the sooner a business starts to think about HR, the better.
Most startups consider sales and marketing from before day one; why should HR be any different? Whether you're starting with one employee or one hundred, putting protocols and policies in place creates a framework for how the business operates and ultimately impacts the bottom line.
Having the foundation for growth creates flexibility in HR. Rather than implementing practices later to shape around the business, you have the flexibility to build the culture you want from the ground up.
Robust Software Capabilities
Your business must have robust software in place to create flexibility in HR. By doing so, you'll be able to scale your human capital management capabilities as your business grows. At the very least, the business planning process should dedicate time and research to human resources management.
Get a full ATS software explanation and choose a program that helps you hire top talent quickly and efficiently. Invest in payroll and invoicing software that complies with taxation and employment laws in your region. The more centralized and streamlined you can make your systems, the better employee morale and productivity will become.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Big data plays a role in all areas of business, especially HR. When dealing with employee emotions and relationships, being able to use tangible metrics and data points for moving forward is essential.
Using analytics in HR has a ripple effect throughout the organization. It can create connections between changes in the business and employee behaviours. It can help highlight opportunities for collaboration that results in innovation and development. It can also pinpoint problem areas and causes so that management can make informed decisions about personnel and projects.
Working with Remote Teams
One of the most significant changes in businesses in recent years is the shift toward remote teams. Many startups are working with independent contractors rather than full-time employees. Furthermore, teams are scattered across the globe rather than in one specific location.
For HR managers, this means being adaptive. They need to find ways to include remote employees in the company culture and find effective mediums for communication. Rapport building with remote teams can be challenging, but being able to adapt will allow HR professionals to increase engagement and create opportunities for coaching and feedback, both for the business and the individual.
Related Article: 7 Ways to Effectively Manage Your Remote Team
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is another disruption in modern business that will reshape how we work. It not only creates opportunities for flexibility in HR, but also for streamlining processes between divisions.
Cloud computing offers the implementation of centralization. Rather than having various versions of employee profiles and data scattered between accounting and HR, a centralized system creates the flexibility to access information on the go.
Cloud computing also increases the opportunity to free up time through the use of automation in HR. From applicant tracking and employee onboarding to policy management, cloud computing frees up valuable time spent on low-value tasks so that HR managers can focus on organizational growth.
This technology also changes how private employee information is stored. While there are new considerations, particularly in regards to cybersecurity, the days of paper files in a locked cabinet are done.
In a world dominated by technology, HR is more valuable than ever. Maintaining an attitude of adaptability while utilizing innovative tools will help HR remain flexible as a business grows.
Ashley Lipman is an award-winning writer who discovered her passion for providing knowledge to readers worldwide on topics closest to her heart - all things digital. Since her first high school award in Creative Writing, she continues to deliver awesome content through various niches touching the digital sphere.
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