There is currently a talent labor shortage where unemployment has reached record lows. Organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to fill open jobs with talented employees and prevent current staff from quitting.
Here are five recruiting and retention challenges that are impacting companies in 2019 — and how to handle these challenges in your own organization.
1. Managing Time
The HR department has a diverse range of responsibilities, including reviewing resumes, interviewing candidates, training new employees, and building the company’s culture. Because HR specialists are so busy with the everyday tasks, it’s difficult for them to find the time to focus on bigger-picture goals.
“HR is about people, and HR staff need to focus on improving people’s performance, not managing paperwork and building PowerPoint [presentations],” said Laura Handrick, an HR analyst at FitSmallBusiness.
Taking advantage of opportunities to automate and digitize tasks will help HR manage their hours more effectively. This will allow them to devote time to larger initiatives, like boosting employee morale and determining ways to hire more top performers.
2. Gaining Leadership Support
Sometimes it’s difficult for HR to gain buy-in from the C-suite in order to accomplish organizational goals for talent acquisition and employee retention. However, it’s essential for leaders to support these efforts that ensure staff is more engaged and productive, which decreases turnover and helps the business save money. If you are an organizational leader, work with your HR department to elevate these initiatives, and ask HR to educate you on any organization-wide issues they see that they can help resolve.
3. Finding and Hiring the Right Employees
It can be difficult to find talented employees who fit in well with the job position and your organizational culture and values. But, a bad hire can quickly cause low productivity and morale among an entire department. Working with a recruiting firm can help you find and hire employees who are committed to producing high-quality work and understand your company’s goals.
4. Staying On Top of Ever-Changing Regulations
It’s essential that employers are well versed in the complex employment laws in the locations in which they are conducting business. Employers face compliance challenges as their organization expands into multiple states or countries. Be sure to engage in the training you need to stay on top of these important laws.
5. Building a Strong Organization Culture
Communication is key to a solid company culture. When you fail to effectively communicate your organizational goals, changes and expectations to staff, it frequently decreases morale and leads to a toxic workplace culture that can negatively impact customer interactions. As a leader, make sure you are communicating your company’s values and mission to employees on a regular basis.
It’s critical to stay on top of these five challenges to keep your organization running smoothly and sustaining growth as we move into the second half of 2019.
Adapted from: Viewpoint: 5 Significant Recruiting and Retention Issues for 2019, Dave Delaney, SHRM.org.