Top 10 HR Challenges and How to Address Them

Introduction

Human Resources management is a founding pillar of a better workforce in any organization—especially in the healthcare sector. However, the sad part is that HR challenges are on the verge of rising, and each new year marks those challenges a bit more.

Together, we will learn the challenges of healthcare management and the optimal solutions to address them.

What are the Challenges of Healthcare Management?

Did you know the HR industry is predicted to grow by 12.8% per year, above the US market average? Despite this growing figure, several HR challenges are on the horizon that require innovative and strategic solutions.

Let’s examine the HR challenges in healthcare. We will discuss the issue and provide strategic solutions.

1. Capture Top Talent

Among the HR challenges in today’s competitive landscape is attracting top talent.

The competitive nature of today’s economy requires HR to prioritize talent acquisition. Demographic shifts, rising demand for talent, and less qualified individuals require firms to search for and hire top talent. However, as the demand for talented workers grows, HR teams attract individuals with comparable abilities or experience, posing one of the most critical workforce management difficulties.

Solution:

• Enhancing Brand Identity: Targeted marketing, employee testimonials, and a presentation of value propositions in company cultures will help boost your brand identity. Utilize multiple platforms to showcase your platform and the benefits of joining it.
• Talent pipeline development: Cultivating ties with potential candidates through talent pipelines, networking events, and collaborations with educational institutions can help generate a consistent stream of suitable individuals.

In addition, you can utilize the services of networking platforms that help you connect with like-minded individuals and gain insights into industry trends. HealthCareTalentLink (HCTL) is your ultimate platform for networking opportunities. Our Community Groups enable you to join communities that fit your niche. Moreover, create your groups and start a chain of networking.

Also read: Recruiters Of Job Seekers: Benefits Of Using HealthCareTalentLink.

2. Supporting Leadership

HR departments should ensure leaders have the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support to do their jobs well. It is the utmost challenge in the list of HR challenges.

First, train leaders to listen more than they talk and to thoughtfully consider and act on feedback from their teams. Additionally, HR can teach leaders the importance of recognizing and appreciating employees, showing them how to be role models in this field. When team members see their leaders appreciating them, they likely do the same.

Finally, HR should guide leaders to act as coaches instead of micromanagers. This approach promotes a culture of positive collaboration and diversity.

Here are the Top Ten Companies that Embrace Diversity

Solution:

Organizations should implement a comprehensive leadership development program. This program should include regular training sessions focused on active listening, effective communication, and feedback management.

Moreover, HR can provide resources like workshops, e-learning modules, and one-on-one coaching to help leaders develop these skills. Additionally, structured recognition programs can be implemented to create a recognition culture where leaders are encouraged to acknowledge employees’ efforts publicly.

3. Employee Engagement

It is essential to retain employees rather than opting for new ones. According to Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM), replacing a manager earning $60,000 per year might cost anywhere from $30,000 to $45,000 in recruiting and training fees.

One way to retain employees is through employee engagement sessions. Maintaining high levels of employee engagement is essential for productivity and retention. However, it is challenging to achieve consistently, making it one of the toughest HR challenges.

Solution:

Conduct surveys regularly to gauge employee satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. Act on the feedback received to show employees that their opinions matter.

Furthermore, programs that recognize and reward employees for their hard work and achievements. It should be implemented. It could include monetary rewards, public acknowledgment, or additional time off.

Do you want to know more about strategic solutions for healthcare recruitment challenges?

4. Employee Health and Wellness

HR departments must remain focused on employee well-being. Your company’s performance will deteriorate when team members’ mental and physical health deteriorates. Unexpected absences cost employers between $2,600 and $3,600 per year per employee. Therefore, one of the challenges in HR is ensuring employee health and well-being.

Solution:

There are several solutions to these difficult HR challenges, each unique to each organization. However, some common solutions can be applied in every situation.

You can offer flexible work schedules and ensure that the employees use their PTOs. Additionally, you can choose fun activities and healthy food-providing vendors.

5. Change Management

One of the top HR challenges is change management. Change is never easy, but it is a necessary part of the business environment. One of the significant HR challenges is having long-term plans to support it. Organizational change can take various forms, including structural, economic, geographical, procedural, managerial, and technological.

Solution:

Clear communication is critical. HR should explain the reasons behind the change, its benefits, and how it connects to the organization’s goals. Additionally, strong leadership is crucial. HR must collaborate with leaders to ensure they’re on board and committed. These leaders should then actively communicate the changes and implement the desired behaviors to build employee trust and confidence.

6. Compliance with Labor Law

Regulatory laws are constantly changing. Therefore, keeping up with those changing laws is a constant HR challenge. Understanding and implementing the changing rules is a critical but complex task. You need to stay updated, check for any changes, how to utilize your resources to integrate them, etc., and many more challenges.

Solution:

• Update Policies: Regularly review and update HR policies to ensure compliance with current laws and regulations and stay informed about any changes that may impact your organization.
• Compliance Training: Provide ongoing compliance training for HR staff and managers to ensure they understand and adhere to relevant laws.

7. Managing Remote Teams

Regarding full-time workers, 12.7% work from home, and 28.2% are hybrid.

Remote work also presents specific possible challenges that HR departments should address. Provide remote team members with the tools, technology, and training they need to effectively communicate, cooperate with other team members, and feel connected to the organization and its culture. Managing remote and hybrid workforces has become a new norm, bringing its own HR challenges in healthcare.

Read More: Top Challenges in Healthcare for 2023

Solution:

• Remote Work Policies: Implement clear remote work policies that outline expectations, communication protocols, and performance standards.
• Collaboration Tools: Utilize collaboration tools such as Slack, Zoom, and project management software to facilitate communication and teamwork among remote employees.

8. Employee Burnout

Employees increasingly leave leisure, self-care, and work-life balance to improve productivity, ambition, and progress. This hustle culture approach has had an unintended consequence: staff fatigue. Though many employees bring this on themselves to advance their careers, the reality is that this mentality is imposed by management.

Solution:

HR departments and managers may need to make large-scale operational changes, such as implementing employee well-being programs and reducing employee workloads. These provide manager training to spot signs of burnout or revise the company culture or values to place more emphasis on self-care.

9. Leadership Development

One of the daunting HR challenges is the need for leadership development. Organizations need to recognize the importance of leadership training and development. It is a frequent misunderstanding that leaders no longer need ongoing training. Even if they do, it is possible to learn on their own.

Solution:

Customizing development programs to meet individual leaders’ or leadership teams’ specific needs, weaknesses, and strengths can result in better outcomes. These programs comprise a variety of formal training, coaching, mentoring, and hands-on learning opportunities.

10. Performance Management

One of the core HR challenges is performance management. If your company has hundreds of employees, navigating each aspect of every employee is challenging. Therefore, effectively managing and evaluating employee performance is a perennial challenge for HR professionals.

Solution:

• Regular Reviews: Implement a system of regular performance reviews rather than relying solely on annual appraisals. This allows for more timely feedback and course correction.
• Performance Management Software: Use performance management software to track progress, set goals, and provide continuous feedback. These tools can streamline the process and provide valuable insights.

Do you want to know more? Read our blog about HR challenges in the industry.

Conclusion

To conclude, recruitment is an essential phase of workforce management and retention. However, there are many HR challenges in healthcare. This blog provides insights into the issues and the strategic solution to these problems.

HealthCareTalentLink (HCTL) is your optimal platform for overcoming healthcare recruitment issues using a digital interface. Reduce your hiring time and cost to optimize your recruitment energy. Moreover, search through our database to reach your ideal candidate. Moreover, it streamlines the management of job postings and applicants with analytics.