January
Tax season is steadily approaching! You’ll need to
distribute employee W2s by the end of the month. The compliance deadline
January 31. Partnering with your payroll department or payroll provider will
ensure you meet this goal. Also, keep in mind that employees may have moved,
changed bank accounts or gotten married, so the top of the year is a good time
to remind employees to verify their contact and personal information.
February
Be sure that you have the most up-to-date taxation
information from your employees, especially the IRS Form W-4. This form is
critically important, as it determines how much taxes are withheld from your
employee paychecks.
March
With the year-end is behind us, we can now shift gears from
HR compliance and payroll to company culture and employee engagement. Spring is
on the horizon, so now is as good as a time as ever to creatively support
employees in shaking off the winter blues. Company lunch and learns are the
newest trending perk that offer benefits for both employers and employees alike
but the good ole’ fashioned happy hour on the boss is always an office hit.
Both are sure fire ways to lift spirits and build employee morale.
April
April tends to be a quieter time for HR and payroll
professionals. Why not kick off the 2nd Quarter with thorough review and
reflection of last year’s major initiatives. Could your onboarding process use
some tweaking? Could year-end have been smoother? April is also a great time to
do some strategic planning for the rest of the year. Schedule one-on-one time
with the boss and dig into the data.
May
Mid-year is the perfect time to have a close look at your
performance management processes. There are a variety of performance review
cycles on the market for use so spend time researching different models before
deciding on the best option for your company. Follow up with management
training that help your employees in supervisory roles provide effective
feedback to their direct reports.
June
Tis’ the season for “fun in the sun’ and employee vacations,
but have you done an audit of your Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy? Examine employee PTO usage and determine
whether or not your current policy is supporting a better work life balance and
keeping employees refreshed and engaged. Summer is a great time to bring on
interns, especially when full-time employees are traveling or working reduced
hours.
July
The year is more than half over, so it’s a great time to get
a read on how employees are feeling. Making your employees feel valued is
important, helping you to build a strong workplace culture that makes your
business a great place to work. Send out an employee engagement survey, and set
aside time to tackle new initiatives that address employee pain points—such as
commuter benefits, wellness programs, or unique perks. Remember, good feedback
is the key to improvement.
August
In final days summer, turn your assessment inward. Carve out
some time to focus your current skillset and career goals. Do you want to study
for a new HR certification? Assess your career goals, and identify a few ways
to get there. The key to getting your employer to pay for your education is
convincing management of the benefits to the company that will result from the
new skills and knowledge you will acquire.
September
Ah, that crisp fall air! Invite employees to come together
for a company sponsored Day of Health where employee will participate in an
outdoor physical activity, win prizes, and eat themed foods. And if you're
looking for help with ideas to would attract the most employee engagement, send
out an office survey!
October
For many companies, now is the time to deep dive into open
enrollment. The key to a successful benefits plan roll-out is clear, concise
and informative communication. Gather next year’s benefits offering and start
highlighting major policy changes, key deadlines for enrollments and trends in
the benefits space. In the spirit of health and well-being, don’t forget to
encourage sick employees to stay home as the temperature begins to drop.
November
The holiday season is around the corner, so get ready for an
spike in time-off requests. Putting a tracking and communication process in
place for management, such as a shared master time off calendar, will allow
your managers to be on the same page. An
office memo reminding employees to consider a satisfactory coverage plan for
their departments is an added plus and fosters a community of collaboration.
December
The end of the year is a perfect time to thank you employees
for their year of hard work! How do you show your appreciation? Holiday Party?
Bonuses? Reward programs? Whatever you choose, ample employee recognition
encourages employees to kick the new year off with a bang!
HR Note: Once
again, HR should have accurate and updated information on all employees. Bear
in mind that employees may have married, moved or changed banks, which could
affect direct deposit. Remind employees to verify their contact and personal
information with HR before the end of the year.
Time flies when you’re being productive! Next year will be here
before you know and it’ll be time to start setting your new year's business
goals. Until then, use this HR checklist to stay organized, remember compliance
deadlines, and crush the rest of the year!
