In a recent Webinar, I reviewed 15 forms and tools on HR That Works that can have a direct impact on a company's bottom line. If you haven't yet watched this Webinar, I encourage you to do so by clicking on this link.
During the Webinar, I asked three polling questions. How would you respond to each one of these?
1. Do you have a social media policy?
Amazingly, less than half of respondents have such a policy -- they're sticking their heads in the sand.
Don't ignore this significant risk exposure. The best way to create a policy is by coordinating with your HR, marketing, and IT departments, as well as a representative team of employees. This can't be a top-down document -- it just won't work. You need to create your policy by consensus so that everyone at the company will buy into it.
A good way to start is by taking advantage of the Social Media Training Module and Sample Policy on HR That Works.
2. Do you have a written hiring process?
Once again, less than half of respondents do. This is amazing, when you consider that the single most important thing you can do for your company is hire the right people.
Don't take my word for it; rely on the research of best-selling author Jim Collins (Built to Last, Good to Great etc.) who argues that the main factor in creating great companies is hiring great people. How can you possibly do this on a consistent basis without an effective hiring process? Answer: You can't!
3. Does your employee handbook tell employees how to be a good employee?
Believe it or not, two-thirds of respondents said that their handbook doesn't.
The reason: Lawyers, who have taken over writing employee handbooks, focus on protecting your business, rather than helping you to grow it.
Remember, as Norman Vincent Peale preached, you get what you focus on. Your handbook should definitely include the How to Be an Excellent Employee and sample Team Rules provision from HR That Works.