Things to think about when setting your 2024 HR Goals
New Year, New Goals? It’s the time for big plans, ambitious objectives and hideously expensive gym memberships but it’s also the time when plans for the year ahead get signed, sealed and delivered.
But what should you be putting in a HR plan in 2024 anyway, and if you’re a business owner reading this, you may even be thinking do I need one? If you’ve got staff or are planning for growth then the answer is yes.
We’re fans of brevity, plans don’t need to be like War and Peace, ‘ain't nobody got time for that, but you do need a structured approach to the areas you should be thinking about and acting upon. Here are just four we think you should focus on:
Tap into the Tech
Don’t buy into the fear of a robot taking your job, it’s not happening anytime soon but technology is here to help you do things faster and better and that’s something you should be wholly embracing. Consider implementing systems and processes which let you handle HR processes in half the time, leverage AI for talent acquisition and boost your employee engagement by using a platform already built for you - there’s loads out there! There’s no need for HR teams to be overstretched in 2024, reduce admin burden and enhance efficiency by putting tech top of your strategic list.
Focus on Employee Experience
Honestly, if you’re still not doing this, what are you doing? And does anyone actually work for you? Employee experience is not a buzzword, it is the thing that allows you to attract and keep the best talent - and you cannot fudge it, experience is exactly that - what you make someone feel, you can have all the shiny reception desks in the world but if you’re not creating a great employee experience and a positive work environment then you’re always going to have retention issues. Prioritise people, they are literally your business.
Commit to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
And not just when the media spotlight is on either. National days are fantastic for raising awareness but consider that every day is DEI day when it comes to your business. The importance of fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace cannot be understated. Work on creating a diverse talent pipeline and in creating an inclusive employee atmosphere, a place where all voices are heard and diversity of thought is the norm and where fairness is evident in everything.
Learning and Development
Want your business to be even better? Upskill your teams (and yourself) make sure L&D is part of your 2024 strategy, create a culture of learning and offer personalised learning and development routes. Invest in training programmes and offer staff flexible options to develop their knowledge. Research what is available in the marketplace and crucially how much it costs, personal development should be accessible for everyone, don’t let a wrongly costed budget be the reason it isn’t.
We don’t know your business
Of course, we don’t know your business or your broader strategic goals - but we trust you do and the key for all HR goals is to align them so that the overall goals of the organisation are achievable as a result.
HR should never be working in a silo, people build businesses and who looks after the people - yep you got it! HR!