In HR, a Single Shift is an Exponential Workload Increase
Whether you’re an HR executive, team lead, or professional handling a designated aspect of HR, you know that one of the only constants in the field today is change:
Remote work is still here but remains a debated topic
Companies aren’t sure how to respond to major social issues
Gen Z is growing in the workplace — along with their demands
Benefits (and more types) are more important now than ever
These are just a few examples of where and how change is affecting HR departments. Each of these issues — to say nothing of the daily questions, requests, and issues that employees bring to you and your team — requires your attention and time. That means fewer of your resources are being put toward other goals and objectives such as:
Supporting the strategic growth of the organization
Creating a healthy, happy, and inclusive workplace
Building and supporting a best-in-class benefits program
Staying ahead of the latest issues and trends in HR
And yet, each issue is critically important to address because it will influence the outcomes of your strategic goals and perception of the organization, which in turn impacts the organization over the long-term. It’s a catch-22, and unfortunately one that HR teams today must undergo in order to keep moving forward
Go deeper: Learn more about the challenges that HR teams are facing today and their potential solutions.
You Don’t Have to Tackle These Matters on Your Own
While the change affecting HR departments today is nuanced and varies by company, industry, and even geography, one solution stands above any other: the professional employer organization (PEO) model. A PEO provides two distinct advantages: 1) existing administrative needs are moved over to the provider to free up your team to focus on more important work, and 2) you gain an experienced partner to advise you with challenges affecting HR departments. They achieve this through four key ways:
Expertise — A PEO specializes in HR exclusively. They understand every aspect of the function: benefits, compensation, payroll, onboarding, policy development, retention, compliance, and beyond. Even the most experienced in-house HR departments don’t know everything, especially as the organization continues to grow (or lean on remote and distributed workforces). With a PEO supporting you, you’ll have a reliable resource to turn to for guidance when you need it.
Capacity — The sheer number of changes affecting HR departments means more work for your team, which creates capacity issues. This is particularly true for startups, nonprofits, and small businesses in which HR is handled by one person or a small team. Even midsize businesses can have trouble keeping up with the pace of change and the work-related responses needed. A PEO extends the capacity of your existing team while also saving you money in the process. This is an advantage because you won’t have to lose valuable time or resources hiring more team members. The expertise you need is available right away. Learn more about the benefits of outsourcing HR for small businesses.
Flexibility — Perhaps one of the most beneficial reasons to work with a PEO to address challenges affecting HR departments is that they’re nimble: when situations and scenarios arise, you need to be able to adapt and respond quickly. Many of the events happening today demonstrate that clearly. But if you have a smaller team, doing so can be challenging — especially if the best next step isn’t clear. Additionally, day-to-day needs might arise in which your team needs to provide a solution. Rather than delay your existing work, you can connect with your PEO to get an answer or guidance to keep your other work moving forward.
Tailored Focus — There are a number of HR service providers out there, ranging from smaller SaaS-only solutions to larger institutional companies. While some of these are technically PEOs, they don’t provide an HR solution that’s specific to your business. They don’t take time to learn about your company, culture, and goals. The right PEO partner will be somewhere between — providing the technical solutions needed along with a human component, and all through a lens that’s specific to you. Services and solutions will be framed based on where you’re at in your growth, where your employees work, and what would be most beneficial for you.
Overcome Today’s Challenges with Cognos HR
Now more than ever, HR teams are being asked to do more with less. And yet, national and global events, changing employee preferences, industry shifts, new regulations, and other difficulties are only making your pile larger — and more complex. Cognos HR can help you chart a course forward that takes these issues off your plate while also providing strategic, customized guidance.
You receive a dedicated team that you can connect with at any time who has the expertise to help you answer questions — whether they’re just an influx of daily needs or something more complex. We’ll help manage and streamline your essential functions such as payroll and benefits while also helping you take employee onboarding, policy development, talent management, and more to the next level.
Our goal is to be your one-stop partner for all things HR. Whether you have a partner that’s not meeting your needs or are looking for a solution to help you move forward with confidence, our team is ready to assist.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about our capabilities.