Consider simplifying the following 12 processes with the use of an intranet.
- Create an electronic employee directory. No more paper-based directories that are obsolete before the ink dries.
- Automate job postings and applicant tracking. Give employees the inside scoop on open positions. With electronic resumes and powerful search engines, it’s possible to zero in on talent from within.
- Set up training registration. Provide course catalogs, schedules and more. Route training information to the right manager and generate lists of registrants along with confirmations.
- Provide electronic pay stubs. Cut the phone cord by letting workers check on their pay, withholding and taxes without the help of HR. No more paper also means big savings—typically $2.50 or more per pay stub.
- Publish an electronic employee handbook. Let employees unearth the information they need fast—using hyperlinks and keyword searches.
- Offer more enticing employee communications and newsletters. Use video, audio and snazzy graphics to grab attention.
- Let employees update their personal profiles and access their accounts, such as a 401(k). Don’t stop at name and address changes. Employees can make changes to their benefits and take advantage of online modeling and projections.
- Conduct open enrollment. A growing number of third-party providers—including Hartford, Connecticut-based Aetna and Boston-based Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Massachusetts—allow individuals to choose plans and physicians online directly from their intranet sites.
- Provide leave status information. Why should HR deal with phone calls when workers can find out on their own what they’ve piled up in sick days, vacation days and maternity leave?
- Conduct performance and peer reviews. Map employee performance against company needs or route an electronic form for peer review.
- Manage succession planning. Locate employees with the right set of skills to fill openings.
- Create discussion groups or forums. Let employees discuss company issues or ask questions in a public forum.
Workforce, March 1997, Vol. 76, No. 3, p. 94.