RKL’s Workforce Strategies team is here to help you navigate the complexities of today's HR environment with the updates, reminders and insights you need to maximize your most important asset — your people. We value your feedback, so let us know what you think of this newsletter!
Here are the trends and hot topics we’re tracking this month.
Set New Year Initiatives Up for Success with Employee Buy-In
No matter what big initiatives are on the horizon for your organization in 2023 — maybe it’s a new HRIS implementation, compensation structure or performance management program — it all leads to change for your employees. Change can be uncomfortable and frightening for many employees, which leads to resistance to or detachment from new projects. Lack of employee buy-in is one of the reasons that 70 percent of new initiatives fail to achieve their goals, according toresearch from McKinsey & Company.
On the flip side, that same study found that with greater team investment and management support, change is 30 percent more likely to sustain. When launching new initiatives in 2023 and beyond, make sure to lay the groundwork for employee buy-in to increase the odds of success and adoption — here are some tips to get started:
Appeal to the emotional side of the employee by answering these questions: What is the change? Why do we need to change? Why will this be better for the organization and for the employee? How will this impact the employee’s job? What is the employee’s role in the change?
After communicating those answers, it’s time to listen. Ask employees to share their feedback, thoughts and feelings. This is your time to hear their concerns and address them.
Keep the communication open and provide updates on milestones and next steps to all stakeholders and impacted employees.
Those who will be impacted by the change should be involved and feel as if they have had the opportunity to make the change happen. This will encourage buy-in.
Ensure a consistent message is shared by all leaders and champions.
What’s on the minds of your HR peers? Check out this recent client FAQ.
Q: How do we decide which new strategies and initiatives our HR department should be focusing on in 2023? There are so many priorities competing for our time!
A:We definitely understand, since HR pros are pulled in so many different directions. But to create focus for big-picture priorities, start with your organization’s strategic plan or if you don’t have a formalized document, sit down to talk with your chief executive or leader. Either way, the goal is to get aligned with the strategic priorities of the organization and then you can design an HR plan to support and advance those objectives.
It’s always interesting to see what your peers are choosing to focus on, so check out this recent survey from Gartner on strategic priorities. The surveyed HR leaders report that they are focusing on five key areas heading into 2023: leadership development, organizational design and change management, employee experience, recruiting and reimaging the future of work. Get more detail in the full survey report.
…voters in Maryland and Missouri approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in November’s mid-term elections?
This means that adult, recreational use of marijuana is now legal in 21 states and the District of Columbia(view the full list here). It’s a good reminder to make sure your organization’s drug and alcohol policies are updated and specifically mention medical and/or recreational marijuana. Organizations may also want to consider “what if” scenarios related to possible employee marijuana use and develop a plan to respond should they come to life. To discuss your organization’s specific workforce circumstances, contact theWorkforce Strategies team.
…the new 2023 benefit plan limits and thresholds? See them all here onthis chart fromSHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management.
New Definitions Added to Pennsylvania Anti-Discrimination Regulations
On December 8, Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) approved regulations that expand protections from discrimination in housing, employment, education and public accommodation based on sex, race and religion. The IRRC vote clarified the term “sex” to include sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. These regulatory changes take effect immediately and specifically apply to the PA Human Relations Act and the PA Fair Education Opportunities Act. Read more from the Associated Press.
In-Person I-9 Verification Encouraged at Employer Discretion
Since the onset of the pandemic, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has permitted employers to remotely verify Form I-9 supporting documents from potential hires. USCIS recently extended this verification flexibility until July 31, 2023, but is encouraging employers to resume, at their discretion, in-person verification of identity and employment eligibility documentation.
Instead of spotlighting one team member this month, we’re sharing some of the Workforce Strategies team’s favorite things in celebration of the holiday season.
Favorite song:
“I love older Christmas songs. My favorite is “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams.” — Katie Euler, Workforce Strategies Senior Advisor
“‘Outro’ by Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a beautiful song to close out the holiday season.” —Adley Satteson, Workforce Strategies Advisor
“Carol of the Bells” — Stephane Smith, Managing Director of Workforce Strategies
“Hallelujah” by Pentatonix — Lindsay Heist, Workforce Strategies Manager
Favorite movie or TV special:
“Every year, we watch ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’ together as a family.” — Katie Euler
“‘A Christmas Story’ is my favorite holiday movie since I can remember.” —Adley Satteson
“Elf” or Hallmark Channel movies — Stefanie Deiter-Printz, Workforce Strategies Senior Advisor
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” — Stephane Smith and Lindsay Heist
Favorite cookie:
“Sugar cakes or cherry chocolate kisses.” — Katie Euler
“Anything with fruit!” —Adley Satteson
“Snowball cookies! They are delicious buttery cookies coated in powdered sugar. You can throw pecans in them if you like. They are perfect for eating but also for winning snowball fights!” — Lauren Stricker, Workforce Strategies Advisor
“Gingerbread Oreos” — Stefanie Deiter-Printz
“Peanut Butter Blossoms” — Stephane Smith
Favorite meal:
”We always have seafood on Christmas, but the exact menu usually changes every year.” — Katie Euler
“Crab and shrimp stuffed salmon, accompanied by a mushroom, blue cheese and horseradish dressed New York strip steak, and a fully loaded baked potato, all grilled at dusk on a large wood-burning fire pit for the first night of Yule.” —Adley Satteson
“Pulled Pork and BBQ on Christmas Eve!” — Stefanie Deiter-Printz
“Any meal that brings family and friends together. It doesn’t matter what we eat, just the conversations and time together. Makes my heart happy.” — Stephane Smith
Favorite tradition:
“Trying to catch Santa (we put flour on a baking sheet by our fireplace, back patio door, etc. and leave boot prints in it — my son LOVES it).” — Katie Euler
“Cooking up a large crockpot of spicy and flavorful buffalo chicken dip on Christmas Eve (my secret Christmas-only recipe requires almost a dozen different sauces, seasonings, and spices).” —Adley Satteson
“My father’s side is of German decent. Every year my grandmother hides a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree and the first person to find it during our family gathering is supposed to have good luck for the next year.” —Lauren Stricker
“We have a family memory jar where throughout the year we write down things that we want to remember (good, bad or indifferent) on a piece of paper and place them in a big jar. On January 1, we dump them out into a big bowl and take turns reading them aloud and reflecting on the previous year.” — Stephane Smith
“Our Christmas Eve party with all of the aunts, uncles and cousins. We have done it sincewe were kids, and now it’s so fun to see our own children playing together like we did back then.” — Lindsay Heist
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