HR departments certainly have a big job on their hands, and it’s likely that at some point, each department will make some mistakes. However, it’s the ongoing policy mistakes that can generate a lot of negative attention the office. Here are some of the most common mistakes that HR departments make:
Angering Unsuccessful Applicants
Many job applicants have recently wondered if courtesy has gone out the window with some HR departments. While HR should minimize the time spent dealing with unsuccessful applicants, they must also make sure to be courteous and communicative. That unsuccessful applicant may find another role that has a bearing on the company in some way, and a poor first impression could spell trouble. Be sure to let applicants know if they didn’t get the job in a timely manner, and be available to answer any questions they may have.
Casting Too Wide of a Net
It used to be wise to advertise a job opening on a wide variety of sites to increase unique applicants. However, with the number of applicants per post higher than ever, HR departments currently need to scale back the number of applications they receive to get targeted and relevant results. For instance, HR departments hiring salespeople can post their listing on SalesVacancies.com and find applicants who are specifically interested and actively looking for sales jobs. This is a great way to match potential employees with your job requirements, without having to sift through hundreds of unqualified applicants.
Not Having an Employee Handbook
When employees know from the beginning what the office expectations are, there are fewer chances for misunderstanding or misconduct later. It’s important to also keep the existing employee handbook up to date so everyone clearly understands what is expected of them, and what the company will offer in return.
Being Too Self-Contained
HR departments should stay informed about what’s going on in the HR world, both inside and outside their offices. Employees in related fields often talk about their offices during networking. If your HR policies compare unfavorably with a similar company’s policies, you risk making your competition appear to be a more attractive employer.
Poor Record Keeping
One of an HR department’s biggest challenges may be record keeping. No corners can be cut, because they will likely resurface later. Be sure to stay up to date with employee records and make sure that each employee meets federal guidelines for employment. At the very least, good organization will make it easy to track down useful information about employees later on.
Small business and large corporations alike need to have a strong HR department. It’s important to know when to outsource human resources, and what can be handled within the company. HR departments can get themselves into trouble when they fail to stay updated, both within their own companies and with the best practices for HR departments in general. Having a thoughtful and thorough policy can help prevent some of these common HR mistakes.