It’s time to refresh the recruiting process

Long story short: It’s time to refresh the recruiting process

October 1, 2021 11:44 AM

Employers are eager to bring on new workers, but to attract the best talent they’ll need to rethink some old recruiting policies.

Updating organizational processes can help HR leaders find the right workers, onboard them effectively, and then get them to stay long-term. As a first step, employers are taking a look at their background checks in order to fast-track the hiring process and commit to their DEI goals.

Once those employees are through the door, it’s important to ensure the onboarding process involves transparency and frequent communications. Employers should take their time with onboarding, especially in a virtual world, says Jacky Cohen, chief people officer for Topia, a global HR tech company.

“Putting an emphasis on how you onboard someone when they're not sitting next to you is setting us up for the future,” Cohen says.

By making this a priority now, employers will save themselves some costly turnover later. Nearly one in five employees say they plan to quit because they feel a lack of belonging and do not feel heard or supported, according to a new report by BetterUp.

Our top stories from this week take a deep dive into hiring practices and how to run a productive and culturally vibrant workplace in the post-COVID era.

Updating your background check can help you hire faster and smarter

In the wake of the pandemic — which prompted record breaking unemployment rates — the job market was faced with 10.9 million vacant positions as of July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and there aren’t enough employees to fill them. In an effort to fast-track the hiring process, companies are considering cutting corners when it

comes to background checks

, according to Brian Matthews, president of Appriss Insights, a nationwide source for background screenings. Yet Matthews warns

this policy could spell trouble

if not done right.

“Companies are responsible for their employees’ well-being and the safety of their customers,” he says. “Knowing an employee’s history can mitigate company risk, keep the workplace safe, and still allow companies to hire efficiently.”

Read more:

Updating your background check can help you hire faster and smarter

First impressions count. Here’s how to get onboarding right

As America’s labor force faces the great resignation, effective onboarding practices have never been more essential. Organizations with a strong onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82% and productivity by 70%, according to Glassdoor. Yet, Gallup found that as much as 88% of employees surveyed did not think their company had a very positive onboarding experience.

It’s worth lengthening the onboarding process, which on average lasts a week, but the best onboarding programs extend at least 90 days to a year, HCI reported. If someone quits their job or must move from their position because of inability to perform their role after experiencing an ineffective onboarding period, a company is losing out on money. Investing time and resources into onboarding is a vital business strategy.

Read more:

First impressions count. Here’s how to get onboarding right

As employees flock to the exits, managers are left wondering what went wrong

Employees are no longer willing to put up with pre-COVID office norms. If they’re not getting what they want, they’re willing to walk. But what’s pushing employees out the door? For many, it comes down to bad management and a workplace where they don’t feel valued.

Employees don’t think their leadership is rising to the challenges of the pandemic, or following through on promises, according to n

ew data

from coaching platform BetterUp. Building a work environment that works for everyone is imperative if businesses hope to succeed and grow their talent pool. Employees who feel supported and heard are 3.4 times more likely to have high job satisfaction and almost two times more likely to feel engaged, according to BetterUp.

Read more:

As employees flock to the exits, managers are left wondering what went wrong

8 must read books, according to benefits and HR leaders

Benefits and HR leaders are undergoing a

transformational era

, where the very definition of work culture and employee engagement have changed in the face of a global pandemic and national labor shortage.

While they’re leading their organizations through unprecedented times, these leaders aren’t above seeking out advice themselves. Employee Benefit News asked several top HR professionals to share which books have been piling up on their nightstands this year. These titles address leadership tactics, how to build inclusive and dynamic cultures, rising healthcare costs and ways to weather the challenges life throws our way.

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8 must-read books, according to benefits and HR leaders