Crystal Resources

The HR Professional's Guide To Effective Research (And Data-Driven Decisions)

Written by Crystal Resource | Nov 19, 2024 1:54:52 PM

Ever feel like you're making HR decisions based on hunches and crossed fingers? 

It's time to ditch the guesswork and embrace the power of HR research! In our last post, we talked about how personality data can help HR teams, leaders, and hiring managers build better teams and improve hiring outcomes. 

In this guide, we will equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to make informed HR decisions that drive real results. We'll explore:

  • The power of internal data: Uncover hidden trends in your company's data on employee turnover, performance, and engagement.
  • External insights for HR success: Learn how to benchmark your company against the competition and leverage academic research to support your initiatives.
  • Building a business case for HR: Discover how to demonstrate the ROI of your HR programs and get buy-in from leadership.

Let's dive in!

 

What Everybody Ought to Know About HR Research

Think of research as your secret weapon for building a stronger, more engaged, and productive workforce.. Here's your toolkit for unlocking those valuable insights:

 

Internal Data: Your Company's Goldmine

Workforce Analytics: 

Dive deep into your company's data on employee turnover, performance, absenteeism, and engagement. What trends do you see? Where are the areas for improvement? This data can help you justify investments in things like retention programs or leadership development.

Tip: Use HR analytics software to easily gather and analyze your workforce data. Popular options include BambooHR, Workday, and Namely.

 

Employee Surveys: 

Want to know what your employees really think? Conduct regular surveys, pulse checks, and exit interviews to gather valuable feedback. This can help you identify areas where you can improve company policies, work environment, or leadership practices.

Did you know? Only 23% of employees are truly engaged at work. Regular surveys can help you identify the root causes of disengagement and take action to improve it.

 

Performance Data:

Team up with your company leaders to review employee performance metrics. This data can inform decisions about hiring needs, training programs, and even compensation strategies.

Tip: Performance management systems like Lattice and 15Five can help you track employee performance and gather valuable data for analysis.

 

External Insights: Benchmarking and Best Practices

Market & Industry Benchmarks:

How does your company stack up against the competition? Benchmarking studies can help you see where you excel and where you might need to make adjustments to stay competitive in areas like compensation, benefits, and employee retention.

Tip: Check out industry reports and salary surveys from reputable organizations like SHRM and Glassdoor to benchmark your company's offerings.

 

Academic & Behavioral Research:

Tap into the latest research on employee motivation, behavior, and engagement. This can help you back up your recommendations for improving workplace culture, leadership practices, or employee development programs.

Tip: Explore research databases like Google Scholar and JSTOR to find relevant studies and articles.

 

Legal and Compliance Research:

Stay up-to-date on the latest labor laws and industry regulations to ensure your policies and practices are always compliant.

Tip: The U.S. Department of Labor website is a reliable source for information on labor laws and regulations.

 

Show Me the Money: ROI and Business Case Analysis

Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA):

Want to get buy-in from leadership for your HR initiatives? Show them the numbers! Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) for things like training programs or employee wellness initiatives.

Tip: Use a spreadsheet or dedicated CBA software to calculate the costs and benefits of your proposed initiatives.

 

Employee Productivity Research:

Happy employees are productive employees! Use research that links employee satisfaction and engagement to productivity to justify investments in employee well-being programs.

Did you know? Highly engaged business units result in 23% higher profit compared with business units with miserable workers.

 

Ready to Build a Thriving Workplace?

By combining internal data, external insights, and the power of personality data from Crystal Knows, you can create a more engaged and successful workforce. Our tools help you understand what truly drives your employees, improving communication, team dynamics, and overall performance.

Book a call with our team to learn how Crystal Knows' HR and team-building tools can support you in building a thriving workplace where everyone feels valued and understood.