One of the most toxic viewpoints a business can have regarding its employees is that they are replaceable. It is possible to train someone to take on a role that another person has vacated. But the cost of training and preparing a new employee far outweighs the costs of keeping a trained employee who already understands the nuances of your business.
The human resource department is not just the people tasked with making sure that the employees toe the company line. It is their job to make the workplace a welcoming and productive space where staff can thrive and add value to the business.
This can mean more generic improvements such as providing them better working conditions and ergonomic furniture. In smaller companies, it can mean a more flexible shift scheduling or bespoke gifts on holidays, such as private label hair products.
Whichever route you choose, make sure that the intention is always to make the employees feel valued members of the business. Loyal and dedicated employees will follow the company vision and make it their mission to achieve business goals.
Connect with the Staff
Understanding your staff’s abilities and weaknesses will help you advise the management better regarding new policies or projects. Take the time to meet with staff and listen to their grievances and suggestions.
Because they are the hands-on workers who have to deal with the products, conduct the services, and manage customer interactions, they will have valuable insight. This insight can help management to adjust business practices to be more fluid and productive.
Know Your Role
Make sure that everyone within the HR department is aware of what their role is in the business. In toxic workplaces, HR people become the taskmasters who squeeze every bit of work they can from employees as they see themselves as the enforcers for management.
This should be avoided at all costs. The HR department is the bridge between the management and the employees. They protect the employees’ rights and well being while providing management with reliable information they can use to decide the direction of the company.
HR departments must foster employee engagement in the workplace, improve employee and management relations, have clear conflict resolution guidelines, and encourage talented employees to flourish.
Maintain Consistency in All Matters
Employees are individuals, but when it comes to conflicts or issues within the workplace, there must be clear rules that apply across the board. Conflict resolution meetings can be where the parties discuss the issue, and HR representatives can offer alternative solutions.
But if both parties cannot come to a resolution themselves, then the HR representative must apply the measures clearly outlines in the employee handbook. Showing favoritism or not maintaining consistent handling when it comes to different employees or departments will lead to resentment and an unhappy workforce.
Document everything and make sure that guidelines are followed so that the employees know they can rely on you. That way, they will be more likely to work with you to reach a positive conclusion.
The best thing you can do is to lead by example. Make it clear in your actions and work that you follow the same rules and guidelines that you expect the employees to obey. This will be one of the most effective strategies you can employ in the workplace.
People follow leaders who are consistent and reliable. By representing the ideals you preach, you will prove yourself to be a trustworthy leader to them. Encourage the entire HR department to follow this example, and you are sure to develop a more respectful relationship with the employees. Respect is integral to the healthy functioning of an office. Become worthy of this respect, and you will find that your job gets a lot easier to carry out.
