Thank you to everyone who joined us for our most recent HR Meet-Up Group. We were pleased to welcome Susan Pyles, Vice President of Talent Solutions at ERC, who shared timely insights to help HR leaders and organizations prepare for a strong year ahead. Below is a brief overview of the key points Susan discussed. These takeaways offer practical guidance for strengthening teams, improving engagement, and building a workplace where people can thrive.

• Top performers drive your business. They outperform average employees by 50%. Consider setting a goal to grow and develop the ones you have and hire more. Formulate a plan to engage and retain your top performers by focusing on what they care about most. Per ERC’s research that is – in priority order – compensation, work/life benefits, and challenging and meaningful work.
• If you aren’t sure if your employees are paid competitively, do a market study. Per ERC’s research, over 80% of award-winning companies do. That way you can make informed decisions using reliable, valid data.
• The beginning of the year is a great time to ‘take stock.’ If you don’t already have an established practice of using a credentialed provider to administer an employee engagement survey, make that a goal. Collect great ideas from your employees and get ahead of problem areas before it’s too late in the year to make needed changes. Engaged teams are more productive (17-22% more), more likely to stay (24-50% lower attrition), and less likely to be absent from work (41% lower absenteeism).
• The desire among employees for a focus on wellness and mental health support in the workplace is on the rise. Show your employees you care and support the whole person in ways they will notice. Train your managers to check in with their employees across the full spectrum of needs. Per ERC research, over 72% of award-winning companies have a regular practice of checking in with employees in the following critical areas: professional development, work/life balance, technology and resources, physical work arrangement, mental health, social connectedness.

If you want to differentiate your organization and make it stand out as a great place to work, these are some great places to start. The good news is, you’ll see the return on your investment in your business results as well.

The HR Meet-Up Group continues to grow as a space for collaboration, learning, and support among local HR professionals and business leaders. We look forward to seeing you at our next session as we keep working together to build stronger workplaces across the region.

Interested in the next Meet-Up? Check out our upcoming events here!