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Looking Ahead, Digital Transformation, Skills/Leadership Gaps, Worker Satisfaction Are Key HR Challenges

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CHROs are making their lists, checking them twice, and strategizing for ways to maximize engagement, productivity in 2020.

Moving into the new year, HR leaders will be focusing more than ever on driving business outcomes. Their top priorities include building critical skills and competencies, strengthening current and future leadership, incorporating organizational design and change management, driving digital transformation, and enhancing employee experience.

Yet, according to a new survey, only 9% of chief HR officers (CHROs) say they are prepared for the future of work. At the same time, nearly half (46%) report their employees lack the necessary skills to drive future performance. To address these challenges, CHROs will need to partner with business leaders to establish a way to balance emerging, existing, and traditional skill sets. They also will need to work with managers to show employees how they will grow as individuals with in-demand skills development.

Report: Organizations Face Alarming New Cybersecurity Challenges in 2020

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The stakes are higher than ever; and experts suggest that last year’s measures aren’t enough to protect data in the new year.

Buckle your cyber seatbelts. According to a new report, data breaches are at an all-time high and show no sign of letting up in 2020. “Companies should prioritize data breach prevention as well as responses, and now take it to the next level. It’s not acceptable anymore to simply focus on security and hope for the best,” states the report from Experian. The authors suggest that there are additional steps organizations can take to prepare, including investing in employee training to strengthen defenses, keeping informed about the latest threats, and planning for a quick response if a breach happens.

Make One-on-Ones Twice as Valuable for Managers and Workers Alike

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Supervisors count on personal meetings with workers to promote collaboration, retention, and engagement, but they need the right tools and resources for these interactions.

According to a new survey, balancing team management with their other duties is the most significant challenge managers face. Two-third (68%) of respondents identify this as a top concern, compared to hitting team goals (14%), obtaining team collaboration (11%), and retaining employees. To manage these efforts, most managers see one-on-one meetings with their workers as an essential tool. They often have different goals and use different resources and technology to make these activities productive. However, there are several tips for one-on-ones that best promote engagement, retention, and innovation.

Labor Department Approves Apprenticeship Program for Certified Nursing Assistants

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Increasingly, government officials see innovative, robust training programs as a means to address workforce shortages; and they’re turning their attention to healthcare.

As part of its efforts to expand job training in the U.S., the Department of Labor (DOL) has given one large senior living provider permission to launch an apprenticeship program for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The program will provide select individuals with on-the-job and technical training to advance their careers and help address a projected nationwide shortage of healthcare workers and professional caregivers.

Use Influenza Vaccination Week to Keep Workers, Residents Safe

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Many people think the flu is no big deal; but, in fact, it’s deadly and dangerous. Take time now to promote the importance of flu shots to your employees.

December 1-7 is National Influenza Vaccination Week. Your employees, even those who have limited or no contact with residents, may think that they don’t really need a flu shot. But the truth is that if they don’t get vaccinated, they could be putting themselves and others at serious risk.

The flu is more than a minor inconvenience. It can worsen chronic illnesses, such as lung or heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. At the same time, studies have documented an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in the first few days following the flu. Influenza can be deadly for anyone, but it is especially dangerous for adults age 50 and older who often have one or more chronic health conditions.

Breaking the Facebook Fixation

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If you have coworkers who are constantly checking their phones, they may have an unhealthy high-tech obsession. Weaning off social media and personal devices can make them healthier, happier.

Be honest. At least some of your employees (and maybe even you) have a serious problem—an addiction to personal devices and, specifically, social media. Starting 2020 with a group or individual resolution to break the tether to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms can make everyone happier and healthier.

Holidays on the Job Don’t Have to Be Humbug for Workers

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Take time now to ensure that those who have to work when others are off have a reason to love their jobs and be productive.

Working on the holidays may be necessary, but it can be emotionally draining and morale-deflating for employees. Helping workers feel better about sacrificing holidays doesn’t have to be expensive and complicated. There are some basic but meaningful steps you can take to make hands-on holidays more productive and less stressful.

Survey: Employers Don’t Do Enough to Support Sick Workers

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From the C-suite to the front lines, people are unsure how to help workers who’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness.

A diagnosis of a serious and/or chronic medical condition such as cancer can be devastating for working Americans. There are all kinds of family concerns, financial worries, and questions. Having a supportive employer can make a big difference. However, according to a new survey, many workers wish their employer offered more assistance and accommodations for colleagues facing serious medical problems.

A vast majority of survey respondents (89%) say that management could have done more to support employees diagnosed with a serious medical condition. They say that providing more workplace accommodations or creating more engagement and inclusion opportunities would be valuable.

New Bill Seeks to Boost Support for Healthcare Worker Background Check

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The PROTECTS Act aims to shield seniors from abuse and help healthcare organizations better weed out job candidates with disqualifying histories.

Late last month, the Promote Responsible Oversight & Targeted Employee Background Check Transparency for Seniors (PROTECTS) Act (S. 2574) was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Designed to help protect older adults and post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) residents from abuse by improving healthcare worker hiring practices, the bill is expected to be passed out of the Senate Finance Committee any day now.

Specifically, the bill would expand access to the National Practitioner Data Bank for Medicare & Medicaid providers to conduct background screenings on potential employees. This source of information is currently inaccessible to some Medicare and Medicaid providers, making it difficult and expensive for them to identify job candidates with criminal backgrounds. The PROTECTS Act would give all qualifying long-term care providers access to the database and help make background checks cheaper and more comprehensive.

Done Right, Rewards Can Pack a Punch

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Knock out turnover with recognition programs that make employees feel like champs.

Rewards and recognition come in many forms; but most employees agree that these can make a big difference in how they feel about their organization and how long they stay. According to a recent survey, while most organizations have informal recognition programs, only 36% say they are widely applied. These programs are important, but it’s what goes in them that can make the difference between workers who feel appreciated and valued by their employers and those who don’t.