The HR manager’s dream is for every hire to be a success story. One where both the employee’s and employer’s experiences are positive and productive throughout the employment relationship.
How to help make this happen
It starts with borrowing a concept from biology – the life cycle; and applying it to the employee experience.
The ‘Employee Life Cycle’ covers events that occur during their employment from hiring to when their employment ends. It is the job of the employer to understand and manage each event well.
The Employee Life Cycle
There are many different models and our preferred model has 6 key focus points. Our simple overview will help you identify what you need to do at each of the focus points to support your employees. Get it right and it will help your business hum – from attracting and retaining top staff through to boosting employee motivation and productivity. For our visual thinking clients click here to view our Employee Life Cycle!
- Hiring
Good hires don’t just happen. Before you start marketing the role, it is important to take the time to scope the role well, know what you are looking for in candidates, and pay attention to your brand and reputation in the marketplace. Thorough interviews and good reference checks are essential. A thoughtful onboarding process is vital for helping an employee settle in and do their job well. - Track & Pay
Payroll admin may seem boring, but it is so important, and good systems are the key – from timekeeping, rostering and leave management, through to paying employees and complying with your employment obligations. - Assess & Develop
Regular follow-ups (formal and informal) and individual development plans are key to helping your employee succeed. - Reward
Motivating and retaining staff is not just about the salary. Businesses today need to understand what makes employees happy, including rewards and recognition, promotion, wellness programs, an inclusive work culture, useful resources, and a great working environment. - Resolving Issues
Having good frameworks for performance management, disciplinary processes, and resolving issues helps the employer meet their good faith responsibilities if they need to go down this path. - Ending Employment
Each exit is different, most are for good reasons however some are more difficult than others. The goal is to provide a positive experience for the exiting employee. This can benefit your brand as an employer. An exit interview can provide valuable information about how you can improve the employee experience.
Where to next?
From time to time, review what you are doing as changes naturally occur in the workplace.
There are a number of tools out there that can help you manage the Employee Life Cycle including software for recruitment, onboarding, payroll, staff appraisals and surveys. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
If you are interested in knowing more about how to use the Employee Life Cycle model for your business, give us a call.
We would love to help.
