The world of HR is certainly full of advice on what and how things should be done. Given the dynamic nature of the work, HR professionals are almost always eager to learn what they can to make their workplace a better place.
However, in this zeal of making things right, one can often fall into common yet critical pitfalls. Such missteps, even when they come from a good place, can impact more than one person at a time and lead to results no one wants.
On the occasion of Dusshera, here are 10 common missteps that HR should avoid at all costs.
1. Bias in Hiring
Bias can come in many forms when it comes to hiring for a position. It can be due to favouritism, nepotism, or bias based on gender, caste, region, or college background. Whatever the case may be, indulging in such biases can often mean that a qualified candidate may slip right through your fingers.
In today’s day and age, where diversity is becoming more important than ever, HR must shed old, ingrained biases and mindsets to embrace the new reality. Rather than a candidate’s position in society, look at their qualifications and suitability. Only then can HR create a workplace that reflects the reality of today.
2. Ignoring Compliance
Compliance is not just about maintaining safety repercussions. The primary purpose of the regulations in place is to safeguard the interests of the employees as well as the employer.
Not adhering to Indian labour laws like POSH, Shops & Establishments, PF, ESIC, and gratuity can lead to challenges down the road that might require too many resources to overcome.
With most administrative tasks becoming automated thanks to new and trending technologies, being on top of regulations has become even easier. With bureaucracy getting simplified by the day, HR should make sure that they adhere to the requirements laid in front of them and must help employees do the same.
3. Micromanagement
Trust is key to the smooth running of any workplace. However, when HR tries to be involved in every aspect of an employee’s workload, instead of trusting them with their responsibilities, it can lead to increased frustration.
Admittedly, the line between justified supervision and micromanagement might be hard for some to distinguish. However, this is where HR needs to make the most important decision. Ask yourself if you would rather trust your employees or keep track of every second of their work.
4. Lack of Transparency
A lack of transparency can easily brew uncertainty within a workforce. When HR is not open about their policies, promotions, or appraisals, it also reflects that the company prefers an environment of minimal communication rather than being transparent.
How a company’s leadership and HR operate is often the behaviour that employees choose to mirror in their own working style. If the company chooses to convey minimum information, it won’t be long before the employees follow suit.
5. Neglecting Diversity & Inclusion
In a country like India, where the culture varies with every few kilometres, ignoring diversity and inclusion is nothing short of a disservice to the country’s true image. Keeping an open mind when it comes to interacting with employees and candidates alike has become more imperative than ever from both an ethical and a practical point of view.
Every woman, differently-abled employee, or an underrepresented group member who gets denied employment opportunities or benefits is a testament to the corrective actions that employers need to take.
6. One-Size-Fits-All Policies
The traditional approach of creating policies that can only be implemented in one way is now a thing of the past. HR professionals must leave behind one-size-fits-all policies and instead adopt an adaptive approach to the concerns of their employees.
Policies of today, but take into account cultural diversity and regional differences within India. They must also cater to societal expectations of different groups and their varied needs to maintain true equity.
7. Overlooking Employee Well-being
The well-being of both the physical and mental health of employees should be a top priority for HR. Ignoring mental health concerns, allowing long hours, or a lack of flexibility can lead to exhaustion that ultimately hampers productivity as well as morale.
With changing times, companies across the globe are prioritising employee wellness. Through comprehensive health benefits, mental health initiatives, and flexible work options, modern workplaces are proving that, to them, employees are more than just cogs in a machine.
8. Resistance to Technology
Avoiding technological innovations in today’s day and age has become an impossible choice. Outdated practices like manual payroll, attendance, or recruitment not only hamper efficiency but also reflect badly on your brand.
Change can indeed be difficult to navigate, and learning about new technologies can be a taxing task. However, to cater to today’s clients as well as workers, HR is a people-oriented industry that must keep in step and embrace modernity with old-school dignity.
9. Ignoring Remote/Hybrid Needs
COVID-19 introduced transformative ideas regarding workplace flexibilities that HR today cannot ignore. Where working from the office was once the expected norm, employees’ expectations have now changed to have work-from-home as a must for many.
While not every workplace may be able to offer completely flexible working models, HR must still keep its options open and provide allowances when possible and needed. Forcing rigid in-office policies without considering employee flexibility can only lead to increased employee frustration and burnout.
10. Neglecting Employer Branding
For every person and company, maintaining a positive image has become imperative. With the rise of the internet, the world has become a more transparent place with both positives and negatives easily available for all to see.
As such, any HR professional or company that chooses to ignore its employer brand will ultimately lose the trust of both its employees and clients. Not only do employees not want to work for companies with negative reviews, but many clients also shy away from working with companies that may be perceived negatively by the public.
In the End…
Even as an HR professional, chasing perfection can be tiring. While there are indeed many “right” things you can do, it is ultimately what you do not do that often ends up mattering the most. Through simple avoidances and conscious choices, you can bring about positive changes that truly matter.
The listed 10 missteps might seem simple enough to avoid, but they are also areas where many might find themselves struggling. As such, do not hesitate to ask for help when needed and be open about what you envision for yourself as well as the company.
