How can HR Managers overcome the talent crisis?

February 18th 2022 | Posted by Phil Scott

The current UK labour market is tight, especially in sectors such as hospitality and social care.

This makes it difficult for organisations to find the talent they need to continue to survive and flourish. So, how can they overcome this talent crisis?

HR managers have a pivotal role to play in this area. The work that top HR professionals are doing right now is at the core of maintaining a high-performing workforce. This is not solely about recruitment. In fact, retaining current talent is just as vital. Let’s examine HR manager’s methods to overcome potential talent gaps in more detail.

Improving retention by asking what the issue is

One of the quickest ways to create a talent gap is to have a lot of employees leave the organisation. So, the most successful HR professionals know that this concern is a central feature of their work.

They ask people how satisfied they are with the organisation before they get to the point of leaving and discover what changes can be made in order for them to be persuaded to remain in their role in the long term.

They also utilise exit questionnaires and interviews to address any potential issues with the organisation as a whole.

Concentrating on employee well-being

Employee well-being is a feature of any good retention initiative. It’s also an important factor in its own right. Experienced HR managers realise that it’s essential to have a well-being program in place. This can include initiatives such as access to private health care or gym membership, and well-being Intranet pages or a dedicated app.

Ensuring that employee well-being is a central focus of the organisation does not just improve retention rates, it also improves productivity which is essential at times when a workforce may not be at optimum levels.

Combining internal re-training with training for new recruits

There may be times when talent gaps in an organisation can be filled in-house. This involves retraining current employees to undertake a different role. HR teams ensure that this is done with the best interests of the employee and the organisation at heart and is treated as a development opportunity.

This training can be combined with that of external candidates including apprentices who can be a valuable addition to an organisation when there is a talent crisis to address.

Considering incentives carefully

Given the soaring cost of living right now, and the forthcoming large increase in energy prices, salaries are a vital consideration for anyone who is considering joining or remaining with an organisation. Therefore, HR managers are central to advising the organisation on competitive salaries in the industry.

In cases where salaries cannot be raised in line with industry standards, many organisations choose to offer other incentives instead, such as personal development opportunities, progression, and flexible working.

These methods are used by successful HR professionals to help their organisations deal with the talent crisis and remain competitive in what can be a difficult business landscape right now.