In this edition of HR News Roundup, we start with an article on how #MeToo is inundating HR departments. We also feature items on out-of-this-world perks, retention, onboarding and more. Plus, a few items from the lighter side.
#MeToo complaints swamp Human Resources departments
Yuki Noguchi, NPR
Fallen media mogul Harvey Weinstein’s recent indictment on rape charges comes nearly eight months after allegations against him first surfaced. His case touched off a global #MeToo movement to speak out against workplace sexual harassment. And that, in turn, has created a deluge of complaints to human resources departments everywhere.
“It created this HR level of activity like nothing we’ve ever seen,” says Johnny Taylor, CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Taylor says he recently surveyed a room full of HR professionals and asked them how many were dealing with #MeToo-related complaints, investigations and training. The answer, he says, was 100 percent.
Out-of-this-world perks: why big benefits work for these businesses
Kate Morell, OPEN Forum
“Things like happy hours and beers in the fridge are nice to have, but now companies are thinking about how they can go further,” she says. “We see that employees want professional development, they want wellness, they want their employers to truly help them realize that work/life balance can exist.”
Related: 5 employee benefits trends to watch in 2018
The most wanted employee benefits
Employee retention is everyone’s responsibility
Sharlyn Lauby, HR Bartender
But let’s be clear. Talent acquisition professionals aren’t the only ones responsible for employee retention. Everyone in the organization plays a role in employee retention. Let me repeat that. Everyone has responsibility for employee retention. From the manager who coaches the employee to the co-workers who work with employee to the customers that the employee interacts with. They all play a part in whether the employee stays with the company or goes.
6 ways to elevate your onboarding
Sharlyn Lauby, TalentCulture
Organizations are understandably focused on employee retention. Turnover is expensive, in terms of both hard costs and impact on morale. Left unchecked, turnover can quickly become an epidemic. It only makes sense that companies want to find ways to keep turnover under control.
Onboarding is a key factor in employee-retention efforts, according to 98 percent of C-Suite executives. But this means that organizations need to have well-designed onboarding programs to yield the retention results they need.
Five practical ways to support mental well-being at work
Michelle Jackson, Workforce
The American Institute of Stress reports that stress is the nation’s top health problem. This makes sense, as mental capacity is highly valued in the workplace but can also be highly vulnerable. Today’s workplace, with technology, fast-paced growth and decreased resources, can contribute to increased stress.
Companies should value the mental health of their employees as a top asset and fiercely protect it. Mental well-being impacts engagement, presenteeism, absenteeism and productivity — all of which impact businesses bottom lines. More importantly, supporting and protecting the mental health of your employees is the right thing to do.
More noteworthy HR news
- 3 Powerful steps to reclaim your life from stress
- Too much emoji? The top 5 mistakes to avoid in the workplace
- What’s the role of company culture in the gig economy?
- 5 best practices for writing great job descriptions
- More than half of workers 60+ are postponing retirement: CareerBuilder
- Seniors: Be alert for a new Medicare scam
- Employer’s FMLA policy and legitimate business reason lead to early dismissal of employee’s claim
- Common HR pitfalls when vetting candidates for remote work
- Undone by a culture of toxicity
- How deadlines thwart our ability to do important work (and what we can do about it)
- It’s your employees, stupid! How to fix your cyber security weakest link
- 5 powerfully essential questions every leader should always ask themselves (and their team)
- Strategies for dealing with defensive employees
- Study: Women of color 19% less likely than white men to get raise
- 7 Things your employees want that you may not be giving them
The Lighter Side
- It’s fresh fruit & veggies season. just a seasonal reminder to get more fruit in your diet
- How to have fun on the job at Southwest Air – and to get people to pay attention to important information
- See the warehouse of the future