How tech gives HR room for the human experience

For years, HR has been overloaded with more administration than human interaction. But is this the most effective use of their time and abilities? While HR teams need to be reconnecting with employees and building authentic experiences, the burden of admin is weighing them down.

What are the wider repercussions? The survey, C-level perspectives of the HR function in Western Europe (2013), found that 42 per cent of respondents described their HR employees as too absorbed in processes and heedless of the big picture. Overwhelming admin workloads are swamping our HR departments and consuming valuable time that should be focused elsewhere.

HR’s admin overload

Payroll processing, talent management, employee benefits…the list of HR tasks goes on and on. Where some large organisations have the luxury of reward managers, payroll teams and specialist recruiters, many still find themselves switching their attention back and forth between tasks. This is leaving HR overworked and unable to focus on ensuring employees are fully supported. Tedious administration tasks are taking up more than 70 per cent of an HR professional’s time.

The sheer volume of administrative tasks within HR means that less than 30 per cent of HR time is actually spent acting as a strategic business partner. Ineffective admin systems mean HR teams are losing out on valuable time to develop relationships and employee experience.

The future of HR is human

HR thought leaders around the world have been calling on a refocussing of HR departments. Many HR teams now have the attention of the board and are concentrating on how they can maximise the effectiveness of their strategic people-related activities by developing the employee experience.

According to Deloitte’s The Future of Human Resources: A glimpse into the future report, the first thing that will determine the future of HR will be the quality of employee-employer relationships. Deloitte predict that the most successful HR teams of the future will achieve high levels of automation to develop the company as a personal career partner for its employees.

The Future of Human Resources predicts that it will deal with more human-centred issues around employee wellbeing. HR will focus on the employer brand and how that is marketed to the outside world – with the growing demands of a more diverse workforce and a seat on the board, HR will shape and lead overall business strategy.

Tech isn’t a replacement, it’s the enabler

Being overloaded with more tasks to complete than time to assign is all too familiar in the workplace, but with this refocussing of HR, the system needs an overhaul. In HR, tech is a necessary aid, not a replacement. HR must have the time it needs to build authentic relationships and develop human interaction with employees. In order to do this, organisations need to find ways to relieve the heavy admin burden currently resting on many HR teams’ shoulders, such as HR, benefits or admin management systems.

According to research by G&A Partners, one of the top time-consuming responsibilities within HR is employee benefits. It’s therefore no surprise that it is one of the most commonly outsourced tasks. Employee Benefits 2017 research from the Society of Human Resource Management found that one-third of organisations are increasing their benefits offering in 2017, so it’s clear that the burden isn’t getting any smaller.

Online benefits are no longer a luxury

Nearly three-quarters of US companies have now moved their benefits management online to save money on admin. Online benefits platforms allow automated input and reporting, real-time data and live dashboards. Platforms like these give employees faster, smoother access to all their HR and benefits needs in one user-friendly place, while also allowing HR relief from admin overload. Through putting benefits management online, HR teams can make better, faster people decisions. Live feedback can be the difference between great employee experiences and only making changes once it’s too late.

With better HR management tools, HR is able to streamline processes, manage their resources and focus more on being the people-oriented team that the business – and employees – need them to be.

The author is Gethin Nadin, Director, Global Partnerships, Benefex.

This article was provided by Benefex.