It goes without saying that local governments have a lot on their plate. For that reason, they don’t always put as much time and effort into their staff as they should. This includes everything from hiring to managing to termination.
Here are some of the most common employment mistakes that local governments make:
- Neglecting to create a thorough employee handbook: Employee handbooks are not just for the private sector. All local government offices should have a handbook that outlines details such as benefits, vacation day policies, holiday policies and how to report sexual harassment and discrimination. A handbook keeps both the employer and its employees informed and feeling safe.
- Inconsistent implementation of compensation plans: When making changes to one employee’s compensation structure, it’s critical to take into consideration those who are working in the same or a similar position. This helps protect against a situation in which you anger another employee, which could result in a lawsuit.
- Lack of data when hiring: Yes, many people are interested in working for the local government, but that doesn’t mean you should take a lazy approach to the hiring process. Efficient and effective recruiting is a must. It’s important to have access to data such as cost per hire, time to hire and cost of training new employees. The more data you have, the more numbers you can lean on during the recruitment and hiring process.
- The use of dated software: Local governments don’t always have the money to spend on updated software, such as to track employee performance or work hours. Using dated software can result in a variety of issues, such as making costly errors that affect everything from performance to employee pay.
If you work in local government and are responsible for personnel in any way, such as hiring or management, it’s critical to have a clear idea of the many mistakes that could cause you trouble.
Take a strong look at your current system, consider any changes you can make for the better and then take action. You’ll be glad that you did so as the weeks turn to months.