What is gamification?

Gamification is the integration of games or game-like elements into business processes to boost employee participation and engagement. Gamification applies the same principles which attract people to recreational games such as football,  chess, or Minecraft to the workplace. Gamification in HR is often used to: Boost collaboration Streamline the onboarding processPromote innovation Elevate employee performance Increase the effectiveness of training and development programsImprove recruitment practices Gamification methods can be conspicuous, such as a reward or point system, leaderboards, badges, or pay raises. Or, it can be subtle, such as incorporating a captivating narrative…

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What is headcount?

Headcount is the number of people working in a company or in a department at any given time. Headcount, unless otherwise specified, includes everyone: full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract workers. The headcount metric enables HR professionals to: Monitor and improve workforce planningSupport efficiency and productivity among personnelForecast workforce developments Why should HR leaders care about headcount? Headcount is usually unnecessary for small companies with just a handful of employees. Yet firms with hundreds or thousands of staff should take headcount seriously. Measuring headcount throughout different periods enables HR leaders to…

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What is a performance map?

A performance map is a chart that visually portrays employees’ performance to help leaders analyze their potential and capabilities. The performance map, like the 9-box grid, illustrates strengths and weaknesses. However, while the 9-box model is based solely on performance and potential, performance mapping allows leaders to choose any two factors and customize the grid.   Effective performance maps should: Spur dialogue concerning employee performanceProvide a clear visual depiction of job performanceStreamline the organization process and presentation of performance scores  Why should HR leaders care about performance maps? The performance map…

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What is disability leave?

Disability leave is planned or unplanned time off from work for employees to cope with an illness, injury, or impairment that inhibits at least one of their essential life activities. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) mandates that employers accommodate employees eligible for disability by affording them the necessary benefits and work adjustments. The FMLA also enables eligible employees to take medical leave for a disability. Depending on the case, employees could benefit from both the ADA and the FMLA. Personnel can receive disability insurance, or if injured at work,…

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What is the EU whistleblowing directive?

The EU whistleblowing directive is the European Union's protocol for protecting whistleblowers who report business practices that violate EU law. The European Union adopted this directive in October 2019 to ensure that employees working in the private and public sectors could speak out without facing retaliation from their employer.  The EU whistleblowing directive: Requires companies to implement safe communication channels for employees to disclose information Protects whistleblowers against "dismissal, demotion, and other forms of retaliation”  Ensures that national authorities "inform citizens and provide training for public authorities" on how successfully to handle…

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What is employee relations?

Employee relations involves the continuous process of building healthy work relationships between employer and employee and among the staff. An employee relations manager focuses on resolving and avoiding issues concerning employees and formulating policies that encourage consistent, unbiased treatment of employees.  Why should HR leaders care about employee relations? Any relationship-- if it’s going to last-- takes constant, unfaltering effort from both sides. While employees must maintain their side of the contract, they also must feel they can trust their employer to do the same. If there is a lack…

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What is an exit interview?

An exit interview is a final meeting between a departing employee and an interviewer that marks the end of employment in its present state. As part of offboarding, the exit interview is an official way of tying up loose ends and gleaning valuable information from employees on their way out.    Why should HR leaders care about exit interviews? Exit interviews help ensure recovery of employer property and digitally stored data, thereby maintaining confidential company information and avoiding employee-employer lawsuits.   Moreover, the exit interview enables employers to gather, evaluate, and implement…

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What are fringe benefits?

Fringe benefits are supplementary forms of payment that employers provide employees in addition to a salary. While employees must receive government-mandated core benefits, fringe benefits afford additional assistance to employees in their day-to-day lives. Employers can deliver fringe benefits in various forms, such as: Gift cardsSavings bondsCompany carStudent loan refinancing programCritical illness insurancePet insuranceProperty Fringe benefits are cash equivalent and can be qualified as taxable, partially taxable, non-taxable, or tax-deferred. Depending on the number of hours worked, companies also sometimes offer fringe benefits as an incentive to high-performing freelance workers. …

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What is a Compensation Plan?

A compensation plan is a payment package designed to attract and retain employees. A basic compensation package consists solely of a salary or wages. A more comprehensive compensation could include additional benefits such as bonuses, perks, commission, health insurance, or retirement investments. Compensation plans involve offering fair and competitive payments that simultaneously align with the company budget and promote business success. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdicz6u06ro&list=PLy3JTofSJZvst0HUOnqPHjl_88eIVlvaN&index=3 Why should HR leaders care about a compensation plan? Compensation packages that adequately reward employees for their hard work can drive business profit. A thorough, effective compensation plan:…

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What is 9-box model?

The 9-box model, also known as the 9-box grid, is a tool used to analyze, display, and compare employee work performance and potential. This user-friendly performance map is a talent management tool that helps HR and managers effectively identify leaders and strategically prepare employees for future roles. The 9-box model is a self-explanatory chart that helps leaders place the right person in the right position at the right time.  The grid includes an X and Y axis, with the X-axis representing performance and the Y-axis, potential. Leadership teams can measure…

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HR strategy

An HR strategy is an organized set of HR methods designed to support high-performance work and promote the company’s vision, mission, values, and objectives. HR may create a strategy for a single job or a collection of jobs in order to address specific needs within each department.  HR strategies aim to drive overall business success by spurring employees to provide high-quality work. In the SHRM’s guide on Human Resource strategy, Patrick M. Wright outlines three crucial elements that an HR strategy should focus on:  Have something. What skills, competencies, and…

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What is an employee performance evaluation?

An employee performance evaluation is an assessment process that tracks an employee's work progress throughout the employment period.  Like performance reviews, employee performance evaluations document the employee’s journey-- their accomplishments, setbacks, strengths, and weaknesses-- to provide a big picture of the overall work performance.  Depending on the company, its structure, and the industry, organizations may use different criteria and metrics for their evaluation system. Some organizations may prefer to incorporate the 360-degree review or staff review, while others may rely heavily on self-assessment and manager observation.   Why should HR leaders…

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Workforce planning

Workforce planning is the process of building a robust organization through attracting, hiring, and training suitable candidates within each department. Businesses use workforce planning to avoid under or overstaffing and to support hiring employees with appropriate levels of knowledge, skills, and experience. Incorporating a workforce planning strategy enables companies to carefully respond to emerging economic or technological trends disrupting the workplace. Just as individuals meal plan to avoid routine consuming fast food and support optimal health, companies “workforce plan” to maintain a healthy and functioning staff and successful organization.   Why…

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What is an employee resource group (ERG)?

An employee resource group (ERG) is a social circle of employees who voluntarily join together based on shared identity, values, interests, perspectives, or goals. The purpose of employee resource groups, or affinity groups, is to strengthen workplace relationships, foster a sense of belonging, promote personal and professional growth, and ultimately, nurture the entire company community.  Employee resource groups first began in the 1960s to bolster the voice of minorities in the workplace. Today, ERGs represent general demographic groups, such as a woman’s ERG or a Latino ERG, or, more specific…

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Talent management

Talent management is a holistic method of recruiting, hiring, and engaging high-performing employees to achieve company objectives. An offshoot of HR management, talent management offers a strategic, integrated approach to attracting quality employees and optimizing their competencies.  HR influencer Josh Bersin explains the evolution of talent management. Known as the Personnel Department in the 1970s, it focused on the rudimentary functions of hiring, paying, and offering basic benefits. In the 1990s, the department transformed into Strategic HR, aiming to attract and engage desirable employees. Today, talent management strives to increase…

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