Linq HR - Blogs (Information) #online learning

What is the Role and Benefits of a Human Resources Broker?

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:15:17 +1100

A Human Resources Broker (HRB) acts as an intermediary between businesses seeking HR services and products, and the providers of these services and products. This role is particularly valuable in navigating the complex and diverse HR marketplace, ensuring that companies can access the best possible solutions tailored to their specific needs. Here are the key roles and benefits of a HR Broker:

Role of a HR Broker

Needs Assessment - They conduct thorough assessments of a company's HR needs, considering factors like company size, industry, existing HR practices, and strategic objectives. This ensures a deep understanding of what the business requires to enhance its HR functions.

Market Expertise - HR Brokers possess extensive knowledge of the HR services market, including the latest tools, technologies, and best practices. They are adept at identifying trends and innovations that can benefit their clients.

Provider Vetting - They undertake the vetting of potential HR service providers, evaluating their capabilities, track record, pricing, and compatibility with the client’s needs and organisational culture. This saves companies a significant amount of time and resources.

Customised Solutions - HR brokers tailor solutions to match the unique requirements of each business. They understand that no two companies are the same and that customisation is key to addressing specific challenges and goals.

Negotiation and Implementation Support - Brokers negotiate terms with service providers on behalf of their clients, often securing more favourable terms and pricing. They may also assist with the implementation process, ensuring a smooth transition and integration of new services or products.

Benefits of a HR Broker

Cost Efficiency - By leveraging their knowledge and relationships, HR Brokers can secure cost-effective solutions for businesses, often negotiating better rates than companies could achieve on their own.

Time Savings - Outsourcing the search and vetting process to a HR Broker frees up company resources and allows businesses to focus on their core activities, rather than spending time navigating the vast HR services market.

Access to Expertise - Brokers provide access to a wider range of expertise and innovative solutions that a company might not have been aware of or had access to on its own.

Risk Mitigation - Through thorough vetting and due diligence, HR Brokers reduce the risk associated with selecting an unsuitable HR service provider. They ensure that providers are reputable, compliant with relevant legislation, and capable of delivering high-quality services.

Strategic Partnership - A HR Broker can become a strategic partner, offering ongoing advice and support to ensure the HR services and products continue to meet the evolving needs of the business.

Enhanced Flexibility - Companies can benefit from more flexible HR solutions that can be scaled up or down as needed, thanks to the broker's understanding of various service providers' offerings.

A HR Broker plays a pivotal role in enhancing a company's HR functions by providing expert advice, access to quality services and products, and tailored solutions that meet specific business needs. This partnership can lead to significant improvements in efficiency, performance, and employee satisfaction.

Choosing Linq HR, Australia's first HR Broker, offers businesses the advantages of pioneering expertise, an established provider network, a reputation for trust and reliability, leadership in innovation, and a deep commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of Australian businesses. These benefits collectively ensure that clients receive unparalleled HR support that is tailored, efficient, and compliant with Australian standards.

For further information call 1300234566.

Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Human Resources/People and Culture: Key Trends in 2024

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 13:02:11 +1100

In the ever evolving realm of Human Resources (HR) / People and Culture, staying attuned to current trends is paramount for professionals steering their organisations towards success.

As we step further into 2024, several major themes are shaping the HR landscape, influencing everything from talent management to organisational culture.

1. Remote Work and Hybrid Models: The way we work has transformed, with remote work emerging as a significant HR consideration. Organisations are crafting policies that support virtual teams, while the rise of hybrid work models requires a delicate balance between employee preferences and organisational needs.

2. Employee Well-being and Mental Health: Recognising the impact of well-being on productivity, HR is placing a heightened focus on employee mental health. Initiatives aimed at supporting the emotional and mental well-being of employees are gaining prominence, fostering a healthier workplace culture.

3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Creating inclusive workplaces is a top priority for HR, with a continued commitment to fostering diversity and addressing biases. Organisations are actively working on strategies to ensure equity and inclusion, building diverse talent pipelines for sustained success.

4. Digital Transformation in HR: Embracing technology is a key trend, with HR undergoing a digital transformation. Automation, artificial intelligence, and analytics are becoming integral to HR processes, enhancing efficiency and providing valuable insights into workforce dynamics.

5. People Development: Continuous learning is no longer a choice but a necessity. HR is spearheading innovative learning and development programs including an uplift on online approaches, ensuring employees are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape.

6. Agile and Adaptive HR Practices: In response to dynamic business environments, HR is adopting agile methodologies and adaptive practices. This involves flexible workforce planning, quick decision making, and fostering a culture of innovation.

7. Employee Experience: Enhancing employee experience is a strategic imperative for talent retention. HR professionals are investing in positive workplace cultures, effective communication, and initiatives that foster a sense of belonging among employees.

8. Workforce Planning and Talent Acquisition: Strategic workforce planning is gaining prominence as HR aligns human capital with long-term business goals. Talent acquisition strategies are evolving to attract and retain top talent in competitive markets.

9. HR Analytics and Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraging data analytics is no longer an option but a necessity for HR. From workforce planning to performance evaluations, data-driven decision-making is enabling HR professionals to identify trends and seize opportunities proactively.

10. Employer Branding and Reputation: Crafting and promoting a positive employer brand is crucial for attracting top talent. HR is actively engaged in building and maintaining an organisation's image as an employer of choice.

11. Employment Laws: Understanding and implementing new policies and procedures around the continuous changes to Australian employment laws is key to making sure your organisation remains compliant but also remains productive and competitive.

In conclusion, it can be said that the HR landscape is undergoing a transformative journey in 2024. Some of these HR topics are not new to HR professionals, but are requiring inventive approaches to meet current needs of employers, employees and changes in society. To thrive in this environment, HR professionals must embrace these trends, staying agile and proactive in navigating the ever shifting dynamics of human resources.

Linq HR are Australian Employment and Workplace Specialists assisting organisations and employees be their best at work. Ph 1300234566

Blog adapted from source information contained at The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) - shrm.org

Find the HR Tech Landscape Confusing? There are Reasons Why.

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 14:23:41 +1000

Organisations must continually find innovative and effective ways to transact and analyse employee data, understand workforce trends, and provide business leaders with proper guidance to keep driving their organisations forward.

Investments in the development of Human Resources (HR) Tech has been reaching an all time high. It is estimated there are around 2400 companies now innovating in HR technologies (1). The prize seems rewarding for vendors that can find the right HR technologies that companies like and can rely on.

Applications in HR Tech range from the most basic levels of digitising everyday workflows such as electronic timekeeping, payroll & benefits, recruitment, talent management, and training through to the more complex and thoughtful approaches around employee engagement & experience, development, collaboration, safety and smart AI responses.

With all this innovation occurring organisations have a widening range of HR technology applications to choose from. This is good news and all of these new HR technologies have innovation at their core, with some more effective and useful than others. They are moving from data processing to a new focus on employee experience (2).

With the proliferation of SaaS based platforms it can be as easy as signing up your organisation, sometimes with just some basic level system configuration needed, allowing employees access, then viewing and downloading results - often in real time. Basic user training and guidance can be received online within the application.

Unfortunately when multiple new platforms are installed across an organisation they often operate independent of each other. Even with application programming interfaces (API’s) the HR Tech landscape within an organisation can quickly become complex, leading to confusion within the workforce. Quickly the gains from the technology can be undone, and amplified if employees don’t perceive a more positive experience or receive feedback on the inputs they share for example after completing multiple employee engagement or pulse surveys.

So plan and choose your future HR Technologies and their intended use carefully to capitalise on the wonderful benefits many of them can deliver for your organisation. We may see the larger Human Capital Management (HCM) systems, such as Ceridian, lead in the consolidation of multiple platform solutions but this will take time.

Linq HR are specialists in HR Consulting, Career and Vendor Selection. Ph 1300234566

1. Youtube : Dave Ulrich explains the role of the HR Business Partner in the digital age (2022)

2. Josh Bersin Podcast : The HR Tech Market Is Going Crazy: What To Look For In 2023 (2022)

Benefits of Formally Re-inducting Employees

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:59:00 +1000

Providing new employees to the organisation with an effective induction or onboarding program is something that many companies seem to have focussed on and improved over time. Programs can run from a couple of hours to many days, and include an online pre-start component.

The enduring effects of a great onboarding program can be many including a positive first impression of the company and an effective transition into the workplace. Many companies include various items within their onboarding programs such as; employee payroll and administration information, setting expectations around company policy and procedures, safety and environment, introduction of key people, initial job training, introduction to work area, and access to and setup of devices and systems. It can also be the start of a mentoring onboard program.

But over time many of the items included in an employees initial onboarding program can change. Changes can be in the form of restructured departments, key staff, company and HR policies and procedures, system upgrades, company directions and safety practices plus much more.

So developing a formal re-induction for employees, often grouped by years of service, can be worthwhile and effective. It can be a time to reinforce company values and culture, and share the company's vision and future plans. It can also be beneficial to have an informal social activity to finish the program and allow employees from different functions or divisions to meet and mingle, which probably couldn’t occur everyday without bringing employees formally together.

If it's not possible for people to gather in person for classroom based training, then an online learning version could be used to reach employees across many sites and be a cost effective way of updating. This training could also include an online testing component if compliance updates need to be recorded.

It takes considerable investment to formally re-induct employees and companies should consider the overall benefits of grouping employees based on years of service and rolling out the latest information. The effectiveness of this can be tracked over time by comparing the number of employees who stay. Many companies may find most employees in the 0-3 years of service leave compared to longer serving employees. So a re-induction within 3 years may assist with reconnecting employees and change their minds about leaving. The value of this could also be extended significantly if the company could capture feedback from employees and identify improvements for individuals and across the business.

Linq HR specialises in finding HR services for businesses. If your business requires the help of an employee counsellor or Employee Assistance Program (EAP) then call Linq HR for assistance at 1300234566 or complete an online enquiry form and a Linq HR Broker will contact you.

Benefits of Online Learning in the Workplace

Tue, 04 May 2021 16:00:00 +1000

“Change” is inevitable, and as people we are often reluctant and fear to change. This is also the reason for many of the accomplishments made in this world. The world is continuously changing, so as technology, businesses and learning.

We are living in an era where learning is transforming into digital learning.

Online learning has set its trend in the contemporary business world. Despite being busy, it is paramount to focus on the productivity of employees as well.

As a HR professional or business leader with responsibilities for employee development, you may have adopted various methods to enhance the productivity of your organisation. Are you aware that online learning has become a more practical and convenient option for employees to acquire new skills, knowledge and be more competitive in the era of post-COVID-19?

The skills you previously used may no longer be as relevant to operate effectively in the new normal of post-COVID-19 world. The advancement of technology has brought online learning to your fingertips and is beneficial for employees and the workplace.

According to SHRM, a recent survey has found that 74% of global respondents trust developing new skill sets are crucial for organisations to face the new normal of the post-COVID-19 era. Thus, let’s look at how you will benefit from using contemporary online learning in the workplace.

Variety of Choices

Online learning has opened up an array of choices for you. You are no longer required to settle for locally delivered courses or trainers. Through online learning you can access world class courses, trainers and speakers to train your employees.

Using the most appropriate course or trainer is crucial for the learning and development of employees. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many employees to work remotely. Thus, providing a world class learning experience will enable them to be more knowledgeable, productive and innovative. Further, it motivates, enhances confidence and loyalty in the long run.

Targeted Audiences

Online training can target certain employee groups or individuals. No longer do employees need to sit through face-to-face training sessions which has little relevance to themselves. Groups can include specific functions such as production, trading, sales or even HR delivering training online specific to them. Even the entire organisation can be considered a group for widespread compliance or safety type training. In a similar way employees on a specific site, such as remote mining sites or sites in different cities, could be the subject of site-specific training.

Cost Reduction

Cost reduction is another benefit which can be gained through online learning. You can train your entire team through one recorded lecture. Accordingly, your organisation can save travelling costs, meals, payments for each training session in different locations.

Time-Savings

With online training you do not have to wait until your trainer’s calendar is vacant; instead, you may be able to record training sessions and use them for all employees at once. Moreover, the employees will receive the opportunity to skip the topics they already know and select the topics to fill the gaps in their knowledge and skills.

Remember, no matter how good your learning and development programs are, you must make sure to get your employees trained as soon as possible. Thus, implementing incentives for course completion in good time is advantageous for the organisation as well as the employees. Besides, allocating a few working hours per week for online learning is also beneficial and; employees will then can balance the time for working and learning.

Flexibility and Convenience

Online learning can commence with one click of a button, hence very convenient as employees are prevented from travelling from one location to another to learn. Moreover, online training programs offer greater flexibility and customisation. Thus, it creates unique content according to the requirements, culture and people of the organisation.

In addition, these learning sessions provide the opportunity to collaborate and engage with diverse communities around the globe to share and gain new knowledge. Subsequently, your teams can thrive in the competitive digital world of the modern business environment.

Compliance

Certain trainings need to be verified as delivered and understood. Online training modules can include a competency based assessment of the training content as well as its timing. Verifying the individual of that training online is more difficult and often still requires physical identity verification to ensure the right person completed the training for compliance.

Although organisations are currently moving towards higher usage of online learning methods, some HR professionals may argue that online learning is not suitable for every occasion. This remains true in some instances, for example where live face-to-face discussions with an experienced trainer are necessary to demonstrate a skill.

Therefore, analysing the exact training needs is a must for HR professionals whist recognising that online learning can be highly beneficial and effective when used appropriately.

So finally, next time you decide to look for a new HR service provider then call Linq HR for assistance at 1300234566 or complete an online enquiry form and a Linq HR Broker will contact you.

References

Avado (2016) Online learning is a smart option for HR professionals. Available at: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/online-learning-smart-option-hr-professionals/ [Accessed 18 February 2021].

Deloitte (2017) Careers and learning: Real time, all the time - 2017 Global Human Capital Trends. Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2017/learning-in-the-digital-age.html [Accessed 18 February 2021].

Kyong, J., Curtis, J. and Bonk, T. G. (2005) Surveying the future of workplace e-learning the rise of blending, interactivity, and authentic learning. Available at: https://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=1073202 [Accessed 18 February 2021].

McCulloch, A. (2020) Lockdown drives high demand for online learning. Available at: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/lockdown-drives-high-demand-for-online-learning/ [Accessed 18 February 2021].

Society for Human Resource Management – SHRM (2021) Lessons Learned in Moving Learning and Leadership Coaching Online. Available at: https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/fall2020/pages/learning-and-leadership-coaching-moves-online.aspx [Accessed 19 February 2021].