For a year like never before, HR teams must balance relying on tried-and-true practices and leaning into new technologies and ideas.
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I don’t need to tell you how big of a role HR plays in the success of an organization. From supporting diverse populations of employees to navigating the legislative landscape and connecting stakeholders throughout the business, HR pros are always up for the challenge.
Teams that go beyond administrative tasks and align themselves with the greater goals of the organization will close gaps in both knowledge and talent, deliver an exceptional employee experience, and further overall business objectives.
Here are five main areas to focus on to hone your HR strategy and succeed in 2023:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
DEI initiatives have never been more important to people. And the expectation has evolved in recent years, with HR teams being called to foster true belonging at work. Remote work has set in stone the global (or at least national) workforce, making DEI key in 2023.
This effort will involve evaluating, developing, and implementing policies and practices that are sensitive to cultural differences, as well as using technology to facilitate communication and collaboration across the board. Employers must follow this evaluation and adjustment cycle to show a meaningful commitment to DEI.
Data and Technology
Automation and AI are changing every industry, taking over repetitive tasks—and doing them better. Investing in robust technology will transform every aspect of business. For example, our platform brings everything employee benefits under one roof, making life easier for admins and members.
Excitingly, with technology comes the power of data.
Data can help you make more informed decisions about employee benefits, training, and development. By analyzing data on employee engagement, benefits usage, and any industry-specific KPIs, you'll be able to identify patterns and implement targeted interventions to improve these areas.
Benefits Strategy
For us, this is the most thrilling area for HR teams. While they may have a reputation for evoking feelings of stress and anxiety or boredom and confusion, employee benefits provide a unique opportunity for employers to support people in every aspect of their life.
A well-defined benefits strategy not only includes which packages to offer, add, or remove, but also strives to understand how employees engage with their benefits, and how communications can improve year-over-year.
“Communications” in this instance refers to a multitude of ways you deliver benefits information and other resources to your employees. Email and text messaging are the obvious examples. However many HR teams are getting creative, adding video and digital experiences to their repository of best-practices.
Any technology or tactic that makes benefits more accessible for your people will pay off. When people are empowered to own their health care journey, they can prevent a host of costly health incidents.
Looking into 2023, here are the top benefits topics on the minds of your employees:
- Healthcare navigation
- Medical insurance
- Mental health
- Fitness and nutrition
- Price comparison
- Fertility
By making benefits easy, organizations simultaneously prioritize the health, financial stability, and mental wellbeing of their employees. This is just one contributing factor in HR’s mission to create a positive work environment and improve employee satisfaction and retention.
Organizational Culture
The whirlwind labor market of the last few years proved to many of us the importance of work culture. A good salary and benefits package is no longer status quo for the average applicant. The most attractive organizations also provide a range of benefits and programs, professional development opportunities, and ample vacation time.
These offerings set the foundation for the heart of work culture: how your people treat each other.
It’s important to encourage all employees to uphold the same standard, guided by your organizational values, in how they interact with colleagues, customers, and vendors. Managers, who have arguably the most impact on the success of your people and business, will discover a new level of effectiveness through positivity, patience, and empathy.
The Employee Experience
The employee experience and culture may seem like two sides of the same coin, but the difference between the two is important. While culture describes the values and behavior that fosters connection at work, the employee experience is a strategic plan, from recruiting to retirement, to take care of employees.
Auditing how well organizational policies and values are being upheld in each department—without excluding those high-performers or top-paid employees—will reveal areas to improve on an internal level.
That said, technology is crucial in creating a seamless experience for employees. It’s important to, as best as you can, invest in the modern equipment and software. The change may be rocky, but the effort shows employees you care.
Combining those long-term management strategies with a modern twist as expectations evolve is the key to creating a delightful employee experience.
Are you curious what's on the horizon this year for compliance? Watch (or read) our latest Brews with Bruce episode to catch-up on HIPAA guidance around tracking, updates on the Dobbs decision, and more.
