3 HR tasks your employees would rather do themselves

Your HRMS can provide a foundation for so many HR tasks and processes. It is no longer exclusively an HR system but an information tool for employees and managers. In many instances it is a win-win situation for both employees and HR when employees can perform HR tasks in the HRMS through self-service. Here are three key areas where employees prefer to be in the driver’s seat.

1. Updating personal data

Your HR team has a duty of confidentiality when it comes to employee data. Many data elements are sensitive from an identity theft perspective. Where possible, data should be managed on a ‘need to know’ basis. While some data does need to be reviewed by HR such as verifying an employee’s right to work with identification documents, other data can bypass such controls and be updated directly by an employee, such as an address or phone number change.

Recommended Reading: HRMS Self-Service Guide - A self-service HRMS is the answer to allowing employees to complete HR tasks

In addition to concerns over data privacy, some employees harbor apprehension over other pieces of data such as health details or personal decisions like marital status. Where possible, these ‘why do you need to know’ data elements are best managed by employees directly in your HRMS. When you remove HR as a ‘data gatekeeper’ it presents the message to employees that you respect their privacy and decision making.

2. Control over saving and investment options

Do you maintain 401k elections and company stock buy-in programs in your HRMS? Time can be of the essence when it comes to financial decisions. This is one area where employees like to be in control of their retirement future and your HRMS should enable them to do so. There is no reason to have paper forms or emails to HR to perform an administrative task when an employee can do it at their convenience in your HRMS with instant results.

3. Maintaining payroll details

Your HRMS can hold many payroll details such as earnings and deduction codes, garnishments, salary details and tax withholdings. While some of these require review before updating, in many cases employees prefer to update their own details, such as changing their bank accounts or adding direct deposit data. While you may need to review some data such as testing a new bank account before the payroll run, you can minimize HR’s involvement by setting up a report of employee self-service changes rather than needing to receive and enter the changes on behalf of each employee.