Self-service isn’t just for gas stations and grocery stores. Your employees can use this to access personal information, payroll data, and more.
Increasingly, organizations are implementing employee self-service portals, web-based applications that give workers access to their personal records, payroll information, and time-keeping logs. In addition, employers can use these portals to communicate company policies and procedures and benefit information (including news and updates).
Self-service portals strengthen worker-company relationships and communication. They also free HR professions to spend more time on activities such as benefit management, employee retention and engagement, and identifying and addressing opportunities to promote a happier, healthier workplace. You can customize these portals to pull data from diverse sources to create a one-stop shop for employees; and they can make changes to their data and get answers to their questions in real time, instead of waiting for someone to respond to their requests.
In designing and implementing employee self-service portals, avoid some common pitfalls:
· If you are going to pull information from multiple sources, ensure you have the interoperability to do this effectively, and be prepared to protect privacy of all data.
· Self-service portals that aren’t user friendly won’t be used. Involve thought leaders at all levels in the development of your portal. Address the features they want and the barriers would keep them from using a portal.
· Don’t implement a self-service portal without adequate employee training. Offer ongoing education and support. Encourage workers to come to you with questions, comments, and ideas to make the portal more valuable and easier to use.
· Remember that this is not meant to be static technology. Keep the portal updated; add new benefits and other information promptly.
Employee self-service employees are on the rise, and employees are increasingly demanding them. According to a 2018 survey, 73% of full-time workers said they expect their employer to provide high-level self-service. They want to be able to independently complete various HR-related tasks with this electronic tool. As a complimentary survey showed that only 50% of employers have self-service portals, there is clearly a need for companies to catch up. This presents a valuable opportunity for HR leaders.
