Driving Satisfaction with a People First Approach

When you think of public sector HR, what comes to mind first?  If human beings is not among those first thoughts, you may want to reconsider how you’re framing your approach. Surely your organization focuses on aligning HR policies with your strategic business objectives, as well as hiring, training and administrative work. Those need attention, of course, but if that’s your main focus, you’re missing a key element that drives employee satisfaction: Putting your people first.

Increasingly employees expect employers to emphasize company culture, providing opportunity for personal growth and a work environment that aligns with their values. That means that your HR strategies must be aimed at facilitating employee development, as well as on company culture. Opportunities for employees to learn, collaborate, and find their passion are all key to attracting and retaining a motivated team. If your organization can’t provide staff members with an environment where their needs are met, they may well look for a  workplace that does.

In our recent Public Eye Podcast, “Putting the Human Back in HR,” we spoke with Jonathan M. Pugh. “Employees just don’t come to work and shut out the world,” said Pugh. “The five elements of employee well-being most commonly are career well-being, financial well-being, physical well-being, social well-being and community well-being. And employees are asking for employers to acknowledge and implement leadership practices that reflect their understanding of all of these employee needs. And when they’re overlooked, they made it clear that they don’t want to go back to the way things were.”

Strengthening initiatives to meet employee needs is an effective first step in setting up your organization for success. “Ensure that people are not just present in an organization in an equitable way, but they are involved,” says Pugh. Luckily, PSHRA has member benefits that are sure to help your organization do just that.

PSHRA’s certifications, for example, are a great way for members to learn new skills and gain the  credentials essential to managing a public sector career along with staying abreast of trends in employee motivation and satisfaction. Additionally, PSHRA has helpful resources such as sample HR policies, case studies and other examples of best practices to guide your company’s HR initiatives. If you’re unsure of where to start with policies and procedures, those assets are great places to start. Other tools  such as PSHRA’s online Webinars and the  Public Eye Podcasts allow you to gain new insights and learn about differing points of view from prominent public sector HR executives.

People are the heart of your organization. By utilizing PSHRA resources and putting your employees’ needs first, your organization will not only thrive, but also it can serve as an example for other HR professionals in the public sector. Join PSHRA today and see the benefits for yourself.