International Standards assisting with employee management
Standards can assist with defining best practice approaches to HR and employee management. Internationally recognised Standards can help guide businesses, regardless of their size.
ISO 30408 is the international Standard for human resource management and provides guidelines on processes and practices to establish, maintain and improve effective human governance within organisations. This Standard identifies benefits to an organisation that aligns practices with effective human governance, including the ability to respond to organisational and operational needs and anticipate, manage and response to human resource risks. This management approach can also help an organisation develop a work culture which reflects the values it wants.
Additionally, it is important for a business to focus on human-centredness. This focuses on designs, systems and policies that involves the human perspective throughout the problem-solving process. ISO 27500 can assist with describing values and beliefs that make a business human-centred, identify the benefits as well as the risks for not implementing this approach.
This International Standard identifies seven principles which indicate a human-centred organisation. These include:
Shape business objectives with usability and accessibility
Assist total system approach and adoption
Ensure health, safety, and well-being are business priorities
Value employees and create a meaningful work environment
Be open and trustworthy
Supporting mental workloads
After the effects of a crisis, maintaining workloads when returning to work can be a struggle for many. Stress can arise from factors including task requirements, workplace conditions, social and organisational factors.
ISO 10075 relates to the ergonomic principles related to mental workload. These set of International Standards have been designed to help an organisation develop a system that prevents mental strain. Implementing prevention strategies such as ISO 10075 can help employees feel comfortable when returning to work and ease some of the pressures associated with workload and mental strain.
Focusing on the most important asset
Many human-centred organisations would argue that employees are the most important asset to a business. Those who prioritise the well-being of their employees can benefit from increased efficiencies, better staff retention, a stronger workplace culture and an overall more resilient business when disruptions arise.
A management system that nurtures employees, assists their development and prioritises their health and safety can create a seamless transition back to work after the effects of a crisis.