3 HR problems your intranet can solve

The changing business of HR and the role of the intranet

The business of HR has undergone a dramatic shift in recent times. Where previously HR functioned in a largely administrative and compliance-focused capacity, now we are seeing HR leaders take on influential strategic roles within company C-suites.

The reason for this shift is twofold. Firstly, companies are increasingly recognizing the impact of positive employee experience on retention, talent acquisition, productivity, and – ultimately – the bottom line. Secondly, HR technologies are growing in sophistication and able to automate many of the cumbersome processes that previously dominated HR’s day-to-day.

In combination, these forces have allowed HR professionals to focus more on creating workplaces that are conducive of happy, engaged and productive employees, and less on form-filling and risk mitigation.

Where does a company intranet fit into all of this? Increasingly, we are seeing more HR professionals take on leading roles in managing intranet projects. A recent CMS Wire report found that 20% of all intranet projects are now being led by HR. Why is this pattern emerging? Because, despite traditional conceptions of an intranet as an Internal Communications tool, the reality is that HR is one of the primary beneficiaries of company intranets.

Not only are HR departments seeing the benefits of an intranet for cultivating a positive employee experience, but attention is also being paid to the many ways in which an intranet can simplify and automate HR processes.

Below we take a look at 3 HR challenges that can be overcome on the intranet

HR challenges an intranet can solve

Promoting internal mobility with recruitment sites and access to training

Challenge: The company needs to mitigate losses associated with employee turnover by promoting internal mobility

Solution: Use your HR intranet as a home for L&D resources and create an Internal Opportunities portal to make applying for internal opportunities easy and intuitive

Employee turnover is a costly issue. According to Forbes, the cost of replacing an employee can add up to anything from 30% of their annual salary for entry-level workers to 400% for highly skilled executives. This estimate covers hiring fees, resources dedicated to onboarding and training, and productivity losses as the new employee gets up to speed. Then there’s hidden costs associated with reduced morale, disrupted dynamics and impact on culture and stability.

For these reasons, the case for promoting internal mobility is a compelling one.

Many companies are investing in internal mobility initiatives that focus on making the most of existing talent and encourage promotion from within. Companies that take this approach find that they are able to avoid costly employee replacements while building a culture of learning, recognition, and ambition.

A modern intranet provides furtive ground for nurturing the employee experience by elevating opportunities for training and progression.

Companies can create L&D sites that hold training materials; from on-demand webinars to upcoming workshops and events. With a flexible out-of-the-box product, it’s even possible to build out bespoke portals for internal opportunities. Portals provide secure locations for users to browse opportunities, submit applications, and discuss details with hiring managers in confidence.

Creating designated mechanisms for promoting internal mobility allows an enterprise to overtly nourish a culture that not only encourages existing talent to stay, but attracts new talent in. If you can get it right, it’s a win-win.

Seamless onboarding for new starters

Challenge: Getting new employees up to speed quickly and efficiently, and holding on to them for the long-term

Solution: Use new starter sites to provide employees with easy access to the resources they need to get off to a good start 

A recent survey by Jobvite found that 33% of new employees quit with 90 days. As already established, the cost of replacing an employee can be crippling. A strong onboarding process can not only reduce the chance of an employee leaving but also help them to reach peak productivity faster.

Despite the obvious benefits of investing in onboarding, many companies do not have a formal onboarding process. Those that do often take a checklist approach that fails to truly engage employees in their new role.

A well-established digital workplace can take the hassle out of onboarding. It gives new employees the opportunity to acquaint themselves with company news, important policies and team discussions before they begin their new roles. Social features help new starters to network with colleagues and build relationships that anchor them to their roles and help them become embedded in the workforce.

With a flexible platform, built-for-purpose onboarding sites can be created for new starters to give them easy access to training and resources, all stored in one place. Forms and workflows can also be used to collect employee information and feedback that ensure compliance and make it easy to track progress.

Tackling employee engagement by creating a culture of recognition

Challenge: The company has experienced rapid growth and wants to use the intranet to ensure employees continue to feel valued as individuals

Solution: Take advantage of integrations with employee recognition tools, use gamification to reward achievements and spotlight employees using blogs

Engaged employees are a company’s most valuable asset. When employees feel valued for their contribution, they are more motivated and thusly more productive. But, the bigger the workforce, the harder it is to recognize individual achievements.

Recognizing this, many companies are beginning to use their intranet as a home for employee recognition.

Modern intranet platforms include a host of features that can be leveraged to show appreciation for employees. For example, blogs can be used to spotlight employee achievements, gamification features can be used to reward good performance, and, in cases where a company already has an established method for recognition, third-party apps can be integrated to increase exposure.

Contact Unily today to find out how we can support your enterprise.