Get your planners ready… 2016 is almost here!
Yep, that’s right. We’re less than a month away from the new year.
What will you be planning?
No, we don’t mean your resolutions. (Although we really do hope you finally finish that crochet sweater this year.) We mean what will you be planning for your business in 2016?
One of our goals in 2016 – as well as any year – is to help businesses improve their HR function. So today we’d like to make our first move towards that goal by providing you with a few ideas for effective HR projects to undertake in 2016.
We know it may not technically be the New Year just yet, but this is prime planning time! So let’s get to it before the Times Square Ball drops!
5 ideas for 2016 human resources projects that will significantly enhance your business:
1. Conduct an HR Operational Review (aka HR audit):
When is the last time you truly evaluated your human resources processes and procedures? Are you using up-to-date forms that comply with all of the new legislation? Are you unintentionally discriminating against a protected class? The list of questions goes on and on.
An HR Audit provides the answers. Having an objective third party examine your processes helps you see what you are doing right, but more importantly, what you need to correct. (What could be a better way to start the new year?)
Conducting an HR audit is beneficial so you can discover where your company is at risk & how to fix it before it is too late. Remember: All it takes to get into a labor dispute is one mad, irrational former employee. It’s best to be prepared.
To get a quick overview and find out if your business could be at risk, take our free, online HR compliance review here.
2. Review and Update Your Employee Handbook
This human resources project is an obvious – but really important – one. Not only does your 
employee handbook ensure your employees are informed and fairly treated, but it also can be the most valuable weapon in your arsenal against costly legislation. In the event of a legal issue, being able to refer to the policies in your handbook can save you a bundle.
That’s why ensuring the policies are written correctly and up to date with legislation is extremely important. We recommend revising your handbook once a year, or at the extreme minimum once every two years.
Oh, and by the way, once you’ve updated your employee handbook, please, please, please make sure to follow the policies within it!
3. Examine Your Compensation Policy
When is the last time you really thought about the compensation philosophy in your organization?
A properly administered compensation strategy can not only reduce payroll costs, but can also dramatically increase the productivity of a workplace, enhance the company culture, and overall increase the company’s bottom line.
So, in 2016, we encourage you to consider if your current compensation structure caters to the performance you expect. For instance, would it make more sense for your organization to lower base wages and increase performance incentives? Would paying above industry standards help attract high talent?
Another important point to consider is if your compensation strategy is consistent with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Have you correctly identified the exemption status of your employees? Are your managers educated as to what they can and can’t do when it comes to allowing time off, etc?
4. Focus on Teambuilding and Other Fun Activities
Let’s face it – employees work really hard, and that can make them susceptible to burnout. If employees get burned out, productivity and employee morale suffer. So how can you help?
The Integrity HR team enjoyed a teambuilding event at Churchill Downs during Derby week.
By remembering that work shouldn’t be all work and no play. After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy — We’re not saying your employees will get all The Shining crazy on you. But we are saying it’s important to keep your employees engaged and sane by incorporating some play into their work schedule every now and then.
So, for 2016, plan some teambuilding and fun activities. Consider having quarterly sessions that allow your employees to take a break and blow off some steam. It could be something as simple as a potluck lunch or something more organized like a departmental weekend retreat. The point is, adding a little bit of levity in the workplace is a great morale booster. And investing in employee morale is a win-win for everyone.
5. Review and get Up to Date with Legislation
We mentioned the importance of being up to date with legislation in the section about employee handbooks. But we wanted to remind you of the importance again. Employers can avoid legal battles and fines by staying in the know.
So, while you’re planning for 2016, be sure to look into any employment law changes set to take place in the coming year and prepare your company for compliance. (If you’d like to test your Affordable Care Act preparedness, check out our Affordable Care Act Preparedness Quiz here.)
Also, be on the lookout for our employment law seminar sign up in early 2016. The seminar (date TBA) will review the big legislative changes set to take place in 2016 and how you can prepare for them.
There you have it: 5 HR projects that should be on your radar in 2016.
We hope you had your pen & planner out! We are HR professionals, but we’re not biased: tackling these HR projects really can significantly enhance your business.
How do we know? Because we complete these projects all the time for other companies and they see results.
We want you to see results this year, too. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need help with any of these projects.
Here’s to your success in 2016!
