November 2017

Checking for the Future

Background screens are providing organizations with the tools to hire the best candidates for the job.

By Christa Elliott

Once the applications are in and the pool of prospective has been narrowed, HR departments rely heavily on background screening to look for red flags
in their top candidates’ pasts. But today, a number of factors, including relevant legislation and pressure to reduce time to hire are challenging background service partners to deliver more. Ban-the-box laws will make it harder to eliminate certain candidates early on and the U.S.’ ever-evolving and variable marijuana legislation is forcing employers to rethink their attitudes toward marijuana use. Amidst all of this controversy, the background screening industry is caught in the middle.

Industry Innovators

Learn more about the 2017 CHRO of the Year and Talent Acquisition Leader of the Year EMEA Leaders of Distinction winners.

By Christa Elliott

CHROs and talent acquisition leaders are the driving forces behind a company’s culture and productivity. The processes of finding, selecting, and managing employees are never simple, but thanks to the vision of great HR leaders, organizations have the ability to attract and retain top talent at all levels. The 2017 CHRO of the Year EMEA and Talent Acquisition Leader of the Year EMEA Leaders of Distinction have taken the necessary steps to accomplish this for their organizations, and these awards honor their great work and accomplishments.

Tech it Out

HR can get ahead of the hiring curve by leveraging the latest in technology.

By Christa Elliot

HR departments have more tools at their disposal for ramping up recruitment and hiring than ever before, and technology plays a huge part in keeping the industry current. In 2017, the push toward a 100-percent-digital hiring model is a consideration as mobile and cloud- based solutions continue to gain popularity. A desire to attract top candidates and have them view organizations and their brands as on the cutting edge are at the heart of these trends, and RPO partners are helping lead the charge.

Moving the Needle

Ways to diversify mobility programs in order to increase the number of female transferees.

By Debbie Bolla

Year after year, an increasing number of organizations recognize the importance of executing diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives in order to build an enriched workforce built on different backgrounds, values, and approaches. In fact, Deliotte’s 2017 Global Human Capital Trends reports that 69 percent of executives rate D&I an important issue. And it’s with good reason. Additional research from McKinsey finds that companies in the top quartile of executive-board diversity had 53 percent higher returns on equity than those in the bottom quartile. Plus the research notes that organizations with more female executives are more profitable.

Future Focused

Five key elements essential to developing effective leadership programs.

By Janice Miller

In today’s competitive business landscape, organizations need strong leaders to transform the workplace and lead in ever-changing futures. Companies that have figured out how to create competitive advantage have also recognized the business benefits of senior leadership development programs.

A Closer Look

As Waypoint Homes exemplifies, RPO continues to prove itself as a valuable partner.

By Gary Bragar

According to NelsonHall’s most recent recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) market analysis, there are several drivers of companies continuing to engage with RPO firms. Waypoint Homes, a real estate company, partnered with IBM to improve their recruiting and hiring processes.

A Healthier Benefits Strategy

By leveraging technology and research, HR can demystify the open enrollment process.

By John Hull

Benefits enrollment happens around the same time every year. But even with the same tune being sung, the same instructions being given, and the same procedures being followed, many employees never feel comfortable or familiar with the process. According to the 2017 Aflac WorkForces Report, when respondents were asked about their understanding of overall policies, deductibles, copayments, and providers in their network, only 24 percent of employees surveyed could say that they understood everything.

Rewarding Success

By Debbie Bolla

A large part of HRO Today’s mission is to cover, share, and celebrate the incredible work that HR leaders and teams accomplish. One way we do this is through our CHRO of the Year and Talent Acquisition Leader of the Year annual awards programs. In Industry Innovators, we take a deep dive into some of the impressive initiatives of our 2017 HR Leaders of Distinction for EMEA. We recently wrapped our HRO Today Forum in Dublin where we announced the 2017 CHRO of the Year EMEA award winners. Each of these leaders is transforming not only the world of HR, but are also making a great impact on their employees, their communities, and their organizations.

HRO Today Forum EMEA

HRO Today Association Update: The Time is Now

By Zachary Misko

It is nearing the end of the year, and if you are like me, you are wondering where did the year go. It seems every year goes by more quickly then the one before. As individuals, families, and employees, we are always working to maximize our time, save time, and do our best to ensure the time we do spend is meaningful.

HRO Today Zachary Misko

Reputation Matters

Corporate scandal continues to cost companies

By The Editors

The impact of corporate reputation on employer brand is more significant than ever before and directly affects the cost of hiring, finds the 2017 Cost of a Bad Reputation study from HRO Today and Cielo. This year’s results show that with the U.S. unemployment rate continuing to drop and the economy projected
to expand moderately at 2.2 percent into 2018, organizations have to be more aware than ever of the impact of a bad reputation on their employer brand.

CEO’s Letter: A Baker’s Dozen Outrage

CEO’s Letter By Elliot Clark, CEO I thought a long time about whether to write this column. I only have one spot in this magazine to express my opinions, and…

The Rise of Robotics

Find out how RPA and AI will potentially impact the workforce and how to make the most of these tools

By Brad Peterson

By offering the prospect of better service quality at a faster rate and lower cost, robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence (AI) promise to radically transform human resources and services. So what are RPA and AI?

Bye-Bye Financial Burden

Organizations that help workers eliminate student loan debt earn a greater payoff: increased productivity, loyalty, and retention.

By Michael Fenlon

With outstanding student loan debt at a national high of over $1.3 trillion, more than 44.2 million Americans are burdened with student loan debt. Along with increased stress, debt is having secondary impacts on many professionals and affecting when they are starting families, buying homes, and how they’re saving for retirement. These obstacles have a negative impact on overall workplace wellness by decreasing productivity, leading to disengagement, and even undermining physical health.