An employee is the core part of any organization. They provide the expertise, knowledge, and creativity needed to drive forward projects and increase productivity levels. Employees represent an organizationās growth and development. Behind every successful organization, there are many hardworking employees with knowledge, loyalty, creativity, and positive thoughts.
For example, behind every movie, there are so many hardworking people with different duties like makeup artists, costume experts, cameramen, etc. Similarly, in an organization, there are many people with different responsibilities, and they are called EMPLOYEES.
Employee Life Cycle:
The employee life cycle refers to the journey of employees from the moment they are hired to when they leave. It covers the entire relationship between an employee and the organization where they work.
This journey of employees is managed by the Human Resources Team (HR). Human Resources is the heart of an organization. They focus on continuously increasing their awareness of the employee life cycle within their organization.
Importance of Employee Life Cycle:
The importance of the Employee Life Cycle includes:
- Improving Employee Experience: Optimizing an employeeās experience helps increase employee satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. It also builds a bond and makes the employee comfortable.
- Enhancing Business Success: Analyzing the customer lifecycle can improve employee performance and productivity, helping drive business success. It also helps in building good relationships with customers and prospects.
- Personalization and Targeting: HR can use employee data to develop personalized strategies for employee development, employee engagement, and retention.
Stages of Employee Life Cycle
- Candidate Attraction:
- Employer branding efforts, such as PR activities and promotional videos, boost awareness among potential candidates.
- Job roles are advertised through company websites, job portals, social media, and employee referrals.
- The organization evaluates its sourcing budget to determine the most effective recruitment channels.
- Candidate Selection:
- Candidates apply for job positions and attend interviews.
- HR schedules interviews gathers information, and makes hiring decisions.
- The recruitment process is optimized based on feedback and analysis.
- Onboarding:
- Once hired, employees enter a new environment and organizational culture.
- HR provides an employee handbook or onboarding forms for better understanding.
- Employees sign and return documents, receive ID cards and credentials, and are welcomed into the organization.
- Performance Management:
- Employeesā work and efforts are assessed, and feedback is provided.
- Training is offered if required, and high-performing employees receive rewards and recognition.
- Manager Changes:
- If a companyās manager changes, the organization ensures transparent communication to help employees adapt to new management styles.
- Changes in Workload and Responsibilities:
- Workload may change due to promotions, team shifts, or restructuring.
- Employees receive the necessary training and mentorship to manage new responsibilities effectively.
- Career Development:
- Employers assist employees in identifying growth opportunities and taking on new roles and responsibilities.
- Encouragement and training are provided to help employees enhance their careers.
- Succession Planning:
- Organizations prepare for future leadership by identifying and developing potential leaders.
- Employees are groomed for future roles, giving them a sense of career progression.
- Exit and Offboarding:
- Organizations strive to provide a smooth offboarding experience.
- HR conducts exit interviews to understand employees’ reasons for leaving.
- Employees complete exit forms and formalities before their departure.
- Retirement:
- This is the final stage of the employee life cycle when employees end their professional careers.
- Retirement benefits, pensions, and other support are managed for a seamless transition.
Managing the Employee Life Cycle
Each stage of the employee life cycle presents opportunities for success, benefiting both employees and the organization. Employees gain knowledge and experience, while companies retain skilled and experienced talent. This dynamic relationship fosters growth and development.
To streamline the employee life cycle, HR software can play a crucial role in automating and managing these processes efficiently.
Processes of the Employee Life Cycle:
- Recruitment:
- The process of filling job vacancies involves multiple steps:
- Manpower Planning: Estimating the number of employees required for different roles.
- Types of Manpower Planning:
- Single Vacancy for a Single Department (e.g., HR Executive in HR Department).
- Multiple Vacancies in a Single Department (e.g., Sales Manager, Sales Officer, Sales Executive in the Sales Department).
- Multiple Vacancies Across Multiple Departments (e.g., HR Manager in HR, Sales Head in Sales, Accountant in Finance).
- The process of filling job vacancies involves multiple steps:
- Sourcing:
- Methods of sourcing candidates include job portals, newspapers, employee referrals, and consultancies.
- Screening:
- Shortlisting candidates by matching job descriptions with resumes.
- Selection:
- Choosing the most suitable candidates through various interview rounds.
- Onboarding:
- A structured process to integrate new employees into the organization.
- Helps employees understand expectations and organizational goals.
- Engagement:
- Maintaining a positive work environment to motivate employees and support organizational growth.
- Offboarding:
- Managing employee disengagement with a smooth transition process.
- Ensuring professional closure between employer and employee.
Conclusion:
The employee life cycle encompasses all major processes from hiring to offboarding. HR plays a crucial role in ensuring a seamless experience, balancing employee needs with organizational objectives. Effectively managing the employee life cycle is vital for business growth, employee satisfaction, and long-term success.
