How to retain the best talent is a pressing issue for many businesses across the UK. To ensure they are able to attract the cream of the crop, businesses must endeavour to become an employer of choice – not only asking what the employee can offer the employer, but what tangible benefits the employer can offer to improve the performance and job satisfaction of its staff?
It’s more important than ever for UK businesses to make time for talent management, set themselves apart from fellow employers and reap the rewards of a happier and more effective workforce. UK businesses can create this win-win situation for both employer and employee by implementing effective time management as part of their talent management programme. By eliminating common workforce management headaches, businesses can become a desirable candidate themselves and encourage the best in the business to stay.
Matt Wheeler, product and marketing director at Amano UK, outlines five easy steps to smarter time and talent management.
Priority is key – To get the most out of talented employees, it is crucial for businesses to possess the technological infrastructure to facilitate and effectively track the working practices in place. A simple time management system can eliminate time-intensive administration tasks and allow employees to focus on the key tasks at hand. By allowing employees to prioritise their workload and release time for key responsibilities, employers can benefit from increased productivity.
Lighten the load – Time management systems can eliminate the need for paper-based spreadsheets and reports. By synchronising HR functions such as time and attendance, project and activity tracking and holiday and overtime management, staff can wave goodbye to unnecessary piles of paperwork and allow technology to take the strain – an appealing prospect for both the employer and employee.
Cut the apron strings – A recent survey of HR professionals by Amano UK found that remote working ranked as the most popular flexible working practice (76%), with policies to enable flexitime (68%) also in demand. By installing policies to enable remote and flexible working schedules, businesses are able to tap into a larger geographic pool of talent and employees can be liberated from the tight restraints of nine-to-five schedules. A survey from networking technology firm Mitel found that two-thirds of workers believe home working allows them to be more flexible, with 41% finding it can boost productivity – good news for any employer.
Save time – Thanks to effective time management systems, businesses can ensure there is no time wasted on parallel processes within the company. Although two heads may often be better than one, a simple, singular process is the way to ensure that tasks get done. By helping to free up staff time, employers can create an environment in which employees can flourish. According to Work Wise UK, staff who have a degree of control over their own work routines are more motivated, more inclined to hit deadlines and more responsive to company needs.
Stay in the loop – Despite the demands on businesses to strive for more efficiency, lower costs and increase motivation, they must ensure they are not held to ransom by the flexible working policies in place. Web-based management systems are an ideal solution to enable businesses to easily and immediately manage mobile and remote workers and keep track of their team. By analysing real-time data, businesses can also keep an eye on productivity levels and protect the bottom line. So while employees may be able to fly the nest, employers can ensure they are always kept in the loop.
With staff now expecting an ever-increasing range of choices in designing their own working/life balance, it’s important for employers to move away from a rigid view of how and when people can work effectively. By introducing flexibility in the workplace, both employers and employees can reap the benefits.
For employers looking to attract and retain top talent, the implementation of workforce management systems can help to create an environment in which employees can thrive. In any business, time and talent management can work hand in hand and for managers to benefit from the team of their choice, crucially, they must first become the employer of choice.
Matt Wheeler is product and marketing director at Amano UK
