Summer Lovin’June 30th, 2008 |
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Summer’s finally here! The great days of backyard BBQs, soaking in the sun, and kicking back with the kids are upon us… But most of us still have to work, at least a little bit. So, what’s your focus for these long summer days at the office?
With many employees on vacation, this is the natural time to catch up on shelved projects or run popular training programs with smaller groups (e.g. those courses with longer waiting lists). Or, depending on your industry, it could be a time of extra vigilance around health and safety, for those who are working outdoors in the heat (and storms, with the way the weather’s been going this year!)
It’s also important to remember employer liability, just like during the winter festive season. Employee summer picnics, pool parties, and game days can all be a minefield of alcohol use, injuries, or inappropriate behavior. Don’t let your policies slide just because the temperature is climbing.
Regardless of your focus, summer is a great time to get things in order for the fall, thinking ahead for the end of 2008 and what goals you want to achieve in the talent management arena. Some best practices to consider include:
- encourage managers to take time to recognize stellar employees
- schedule extra performance conversations with your top - and bottom - employees
- consider adding a strategic program for 2009. Does your organization need to focus on succession planning, goal alignment, or pay for performance? Now is the time to plan for how you will champion these programs in the boardroom
- review your reporting procedures - do you have all the reports in place that you need to quickly pull the information your execs may want to see by end of year?
It seems strange in July to be thinking ahead to next year already, but that’s a big part of transitioning HR from a tactical function to a truly strategic role within the organization. Using your employee performance and talent management tool to free up your time to focus on the big picture - where you company is going, what challenges lie a couple of quarters out - is how your department will add real value to the bottom line.
And then when it’s your turn to take vacation you can rest easy, enjoy your lounge chair, and get lost in a good book. Happy Sunning!
Tags: HR, pay for performance, succession planning, talent managementRelated posts
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