Building Trust: Why HR Approachability Matters for Small Business Success
The cornerstone of any relationship, business or personal, is trust. Trust is crucial for overall organizational success, and one of the most effective ways to cultivate this trust within your business is through an approachable Human Resources department. When employees feel comfortable engaging with HR, it sets the stage for a more transparent, supportive, and productive workplace all around.
Why is building trust between HR and your employees so critical to your business? A study done by Harvard Business Review shows that, when compared to employees at low-trust companies, people at high-trust companies report the following: 74% less stress, 106% more energy at work, 50% higher productivity,13% fewer sick days, 76% more engagement, 29% more satisfaction with their lives, and 40% less burnout.
Those are statistics we want to help you achieve, and it all starts with open lines of communication. An approachable HR department, by nature, creates more open communication channels. When employees feel that HR professionals are accessible, responsive, and genuinely interested in their concerns, it allows HR to address issues before they escalate, leading to a more harmonious and unified workplace where employees feel heard, valued, and safe. This type of environment is the perfect breeding ground for productivity and efficiency.
When conflict does arise, employees need to be able to trust that their concerns will be handled confidentially and professionally, and an approachable HR department ensures that sensitive issues are managed discreetly, and with empathy. This builds a foundation of trust, encouraging employees to speak up without fear of repercussions. This level of trust, however, is not something that can be built overnight, and to better ensure a high level of objectivity, consider third party HR departments, like Powerhouse HR. Whether in-house or 3rd party, building trust requires a daily effort by Human Resources and staff to engage with employees throughout the office.
Daily interactions, however, can quickly become scarce, especially in today’s world where so much is virtual, including entire departments or businesses. Streamlining communication to HR by creating HR-specific email distribution lists so employees know they have a safe space or (virtual) open door at any time will significantly help to further build an ideal level of trust between employee and HR. Knowing HR can be reached to some extent at any time of day creates confidence, and also allows HR staff to better understand the challenges employees are facing.
By proactively engaging with employees to understand their needs and challenges, HR staff are showing how invested they are in employee well-being. This could include anything from regular check-ins or targeted wellness programs, to providing resources for professional development; all of which tie back to the overall employee experience. Employee surveys or designated HR “office hours” can be utilized throughout the year to gauge satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. When HR professionals are actively engaged with employees on a regular basis, it also helps to demystify their role and build stronger interdepartmental relationships.
Consistency and transparency in HR policies lead to even deeper levels of trust. When employees understand the rules and see them applied fairly, universally, they are more likely to trust the HR department and, by extension, the organization as a whole. Transparency in decision-making processes, especially regarding promotions, raises, and disciplinary actions, further reinforces this trust, and can be major motivational drivers.
One of the largest motivational drivers we’ve seen stems from employees believing their company has truly invested in them, and genuinely values their work. By investing in your employees’ career growth through resources, training, and opportunities for advancement, an organization not only boosts employee morale, but also reinforces the idea that your company values an employees’ contributions and future. Human Resources can get involved by helping to develop and communicate clear career paths and development programs, or offering regular workshops and training sessions to help employees upskill.
At the end of the day, building trust through an approachable HR department is an ongoing effort that requires dedication and a genuine commitment to employee well-being. By implementing these strategies, organizations can create a positive workplace culture where trust and collaboration thrive. Ultimately, a trusted HR department contributes to a more engaged, loyal, and productive workforce, driving the organization toward greater success.
