093 – Why you need great HR tactics an interview with Jackie Strachan

Today on the show we’ve invited Jackie Strachan to join us.  Jackie is the head of HR Tactics, a Brisbane based firm that gives smaller companies access to top flight human resources professionals.  Start-up companies usually find it difficult to hire and manage their workforce.  That’s where a company like HR Tactics comes in.  Managing staff isn’t easy but Jackie has some simple tips that can dramatically improve your office.

Jackie says the biggest thing managers get wrong when it comes to human resources is engagement.  Managers are not connecting with their employees.  They are not providing the kind of training and onboarding that will ensure employees stay for the long-term.  You need to measure engagement on an ongoing basis to understand how your workers feel about their jobs.  You can’t expect to just provide compensation to get the best from your employees.

One of the first things you can introduce is to start meeting with your staff on a regular basis.  If you are already doing this take a closer look at what you’re talking about.  The move in the HR industry is away from annual performance reviews and towards more regular discussions.

Everytime you employ someone you are introducing potential risks to the business.  In order to mitigate those risks employers need the proper HR processes in place.  For example, you may train a new employee about how to use a dangerous piece of equipment on site.  If you don’t produce a record that you have trained the employee you’re leaving yourself vulnerable.  If they injure themselves without any record of having trained them you could face big fines or worse.

Having a detailed position description is also very important.  Clearly detailing what role the employee is expected to fill is important if you ever have to dismiss an employee.  But they are also important for building engagement for the employee.  When a person knows what is expected of them they are more likely to succeed.  Having a structured onboarding process is incredibly important.  Having a checklist that employees can follow will decrease resignations and other problems.

Jackie says there are a number of challenges facing human resources in the next five years.  HR is less thought about in smaller businesses, a sector of the economy that is expected to grow in the coming years.  Demonstrating the importance of HR to those businesses is incredibly important.  There is a growing administrative burden being placed on small business.  You can drown in the paperwork.  Luckily, there are automated solutions that can dramatically cut down on your compliance work.

Jackie says having great recruitment processes are hugely important.  Doing it yourself is fine but make sure you are following best practices.  Just Google it!  It will make your life alot easier.