We’re all HR Mums!

We all know employee engagement is an important part of HR services. Finding that right balance between attracting, motivating and retaining staff and creating and maintaining high levels of productivity and efficiency can be a difficult task. At performHR we do things a bit differently. Around here, we recognise that not everyone is suited to the lifestyle of a 9-5 job, so we don’t constrict them! Our HR Mum’s are all proud parents and motivated HR specialists. We aim for the best of both worlds, by allowing our team to work from home, in the most comfortable and encouraging environment, and your business…and their sanity…are better for it! We allow staff to work only when the time is right for them…and we always get the job done.

Mother of three and dual CEO, Lyndell Fogarty, says being a working parent can be tough work, but being a HR Mum allows her to spend time with the kids, while still doing what she loves without the hassles and constrictions of a full-time job.

While many women find it difficult to re-enter the workforce after having kids, especially working within a corporate role, performHR founder Jenny Roberts, says they have came up with a way to tap into the wonderful vein of HR talent that is out there and at the same time give these ladies meaningful senior work.

Project Consultant, and HR Mum Julie Washington-Sare, said after having children it was difficult to find a role that was stimulating and allowed her to utilise her skill and experience, but on a part-time basis.

“I was very committed to continuing to develop my career, but I wanted to balance this with spending sufficient time with my growing family,” she said.

“performHR is a good match for me because if offers interesting and challenging work opportunities, with the flexibility to work when I am available to do so, either on a part-time, project or term-time only basis.”

Intern Programs

Taking on an intern in your organisation may seem like a time consuming hassle, but it really doesn’t need to be.

Generally interns are in their final year of university (3^rd or 4^th year students), so unlike that painful work experience nightmare from the past, they genuinely want to be there, they have in depth knowledge of their area and they don’t need you to hold their hand.

Organisations needing a little bit of extra support, whether it’s in accounting, business, IT, marketing, law, communications or many other areas can look to local universities for some assistance- and best of all it’s free!

Intern programs are generally unpaid positions that are mutually beneficial for employers and students. The term ‘slave-labour’ generally springs to mind when internships are mentioned, however, the intern is extremely grateful to be gaining experience in a professional setting and the organisation is able to relieve some of the workload for free, whilst possibly discovering a new talent.

‘Yeah yeah- I’ll sort it out when I have the time’ I hear you say, but really you know you’re never going to make the time -that’s where we step in- performHR offer an internship matching service for any intern program, which takes all of the work out of getting a young achiever into your organisation. We’ll consult with you to examine the needs of your business and find a suitable match for you; we’ll support both you and the intern throughout the process and ensure everyone’s getting the best they possibly can from the agreement.

Think about it. If you’ve never had the time it may be because you’ve never had an intern.

HR: The necessary evil?

So many businesses still think the costs of hiring a HR specialist far outweigh the benefits. So, why is it that HR still gets a seat at the so called, ‘big table’? The reality is that some managers are not prepared nor do they have time to focus on the day-to-day issues of leadership and people management. People are often left to evolve over time, when they could be guided and managed to reach new heights in productivity, efficiency and customer satisfaction. The right HR professional can help you with all of these things. I know, I know…it sounds a bit like a sales pitch, doesn’t it? But hold your fire for just one second I can explain myself.

You see it’s not a new concept that all businesses are looking for that thing that will set them apart from all the others and sometimes that ‘wow’ factor is hard to find. But that point of difference doesn’t always have to come from the function of the business itself. It can be about how the business operates within itself or less subtly known as, ‘the way we do things around here’. By understanding the needs and ‘points of difference’ of your team, their drive and productivity will ensure the high performance of your organisation overtime. Now, this seems obvious. But most businesses don’t have the time or urgency to attend to what they may perceive as the ‘soft stuff’. By understanding your businesses direction and goals, a HR team can help to develop plans and strategic programs to help your team deliver, allowing you to focus on the bottom line. Whether it’s recruiting, leadership development or finding the incentives to motivate your employees, the right HR professional can positively manage these issues to align with the goals and direction of your business. So, is HR just a means to keep those regulators of your case?

Sure, HR can help you with your policy and regulatory requirements, but HR needs to be viewed as a proactive role rather than purely a policing function. As far as the ‘fuss that HR makes about itself outweighing its contribution to the world’, I think HR professionals should be more critical of whether or not we need to exist and take some serious responsibility for the success or failure within a business, not simply stand back as a ‘detached onlooker’. HR should continually be looking at ways to improve and enhance their value instead of trying to defend their talent…And yes, I know, this may have been a ‘subtle’ opportunity to justify HR, as a profession and as an important part of organisational success, but I swear, with the right mix of people, you will find my defence a worthy one!