Virginia Human Resources Today - Summer 2008 - (Page 25)

companies have devised ways to keep tabs on their workforces’ pulse. Any change in mood or attitude is important to them, and they prefer to deal with issues before they fester into big problems. Whether through employee relations specialists, conﬁdential feedback processes or employee focus groups, best-practice companies never shy away from learning the truth or dealing with what they learn. needs. Best-practice companies aggressively pursue top talent from diverse backgrounds as a catalyst for growth and success. But, they don’t stop there. They ensure collaboration and understanding among employees through diversity training, afﬁ nity networks and cultural awareness programs. ©www.istockphoto.com/Matjaz Boncina Best-practice companies are where you ﬁ nd CEOs who post their own performance reviews for everyone to see. They’re where employees hear about business initiatives and/or results before the outside world does. These companies place a huge emphasis on building internal communications tools, like Intranet sites and Web-based conferencing platforms, to keep their employees informed and engaged. The last people they want to surprise are their own team members. 6 7 8 They value open communications above all else Employees in high-performing companies get excited when they work on complex projects—some of which may cross international boundaries—and discover that no matter where their co-workers are from or located, the level of commitment to driving results is always the same. Best-practice companies know that teamwork fosters conﬁdence, trust and respect among employees. 9 They understand the power of teamwork They believe in work/ life balance Many companies Many companies would do well to would do well to take page from the take a page from the books of companies books of companies who already have high who already have high levels of employee levels of employee satisfaction and satisfaction and s retention. retention. e These are companies that recognize their employees juggle the demands of family, work and life in general. To ensure their employees can manage it all, they lead the way in paid time off, job sharing, ﬂexible scheduling and many alternative work arrangements. They would rather have people on the job who can focus and produce at top levels than people who are too exhausted and stressed out to think straight. The best-practice companies are inclined to shrug off accolades and recognition with comments like, “We think we can do better.” It’s not false modesty, they mean it. That’s why they’re always exploring new ways to understand what their employees want and need to succeed. It’s a continuous loop of quality improvement. As one company said, “The minute we think we have it nailed, we’re dead.” 10 They never think they have it right They view workforce diversity as a competitive advantage In today’s business world, enlightened companies realize their customers come from all walks of life and have distinct opinions, desires and Carol Barber is Executive Vice President with Bernard Hodes Group, and manager of its Health Care, Diversity, and PR consulting practices. Through her work with multinational organizations and small startups, Carol has experience in all facets of HR. She is author of numerous articles and white papers. Carol’s most recent work, Quicksand, A Guide to Recruiting in a Wired World, has led to speaking engagements across the country, including the 2008 Virginia SHRM State Conference. 25

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Virginia Human Resources Today - Summer 2008

Virginia Human Resources Today - Summer 2008 Contents 2008 State Council Officers and Directors President’s Message: Treasure Hunt Hire the Best, Keep the Best Legalislative Update: Legislative Roundup 2008 Conference and Expo Preview Virginia Universities Score Big at the Southerst Regional HR Games! Retention: A Strategic Approach The Top Ten Best Practices for Retention Employee Recognition and Retention Tactics for Winning the Talent War Your SHRM Southeast Regional Team Index to Advertisers Advertisers.com

Virginia Human Resources Today - Summer 2008

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