What is HR?
HR, or human resources, refers to the management of people within the workplace. In most cases, it is the responsibility of the HR department to assist with:
- The recruitment process
- Onboarding new staff
- Payroll
- Employee benefits, bonuses, and holidays
- Training and career development opportunities
- Managing employee wellbeing and sickness
- Promoting business culture and ethics
- Improving productivity within the business
- Other (depending on the industry and business)
The people who work in your company are one of your greatest assets, so it’s important that they have the necessary resources allocated to them. If an employee does not feel supported or motivated to work, problems will begin to arise. On that note, let’s take a look at just some of the reasons HR is so important in the workplace.
Ensures new employees are settled in
We’re all aware of how important it is to make a good first impression. While it’s important for new employees to make that extra effort to settle in, it’s just as important for employers to ensure a great first few weeks for new staff.
A dedicated HR manager will have the ability to tailor a strong induction programme for new employees, which can include relevant training materials and structure, as well as push workplace culture and expectations. New staff will appreciate this, and the business will benefit from employee productivity from the get-go.
Furthermore, HR managers can implement procedures to encourage team building and to develop relationships as early as the first day of a new role. Whether that’s organising a pub lunch or pairing up the new workers with a buddy for the first week, showing a new employee that they matter will go a long way.
Reduces staff turnover
Unhappy staff won’t stick around. After all, we spend the vast majority of our lives working, so it’s important for us to be happy in what we do. Therefore, it’s in the business’ best interests to hold on to staff who succeed in their roles. 
One of the biggest contributing factors to staff turnover is the lack of development or progression. If an individual thrives at their job, it’s only natural that they’ll want to progress, and if you don’t provide that opportunity you could risk losing them. A dedicated HR manager can keep up to date with employees’ goals and ambitions through regular meetings, and develop realistic goals to help get them where they want to be.
Furthermore, HR managers will be able to ensure that employees are rewarded and recognised for their efforts, listen to their feedback, and make sure their work-life balance is fair and manageable. This and more creates happy employees who want to thrive and grow with the business.
Optimises Employee Productivity
An effective HR manager can put measures in place that ensure your business is getting the most out of its employees. As we covered earlier in the alluded to earlier in the article, one of the biggest contributors to employee productivity is wellbeing and job satisfaction, which is essential to get right if you want employees to do their job properly.
Other factors a HR manager should consider in relation to to employee productivity are:
- Equipment – Do employees have the right equipment / software to do their job as efficiently as possible?
- Sickness – Are staff taking too much time off? If so, what steps should be taken to reduce this?
- Delegation – Are tasks being delegated properly? Is there a proper hierarchy within the business that ensures the optimal delegation of tasks?
- Incentives – Are there enough incentives within the business for employees to want to give their best?
The growth of a business is both catalysed and bottle-necked by the productivity of their employees, so it’s worth investing in HR to get the most out of your people.
Flagship Partners – Peterborough’s No.1 HR Consultancy
At Flagship Partners, we value both employees and businesses. That’s why we’re proud to offer a comprehensive and flexible consultancy service for businesses across the country to take advantage of.
We take the time to get to know your business and tailor plans that are designed to increase employee wellbeing, productivity, and development. If you would like to know more about this service, please head over to our designated page or give us a call on 03300 553643.
