This article is an ode to Scott's 2024 Year End Prep Webinar. Enjoy.
Welcome to Thread's 2024 Year in Prep Webinar: The Written Word, led by Scott Mastley, Chief HR Officer at Thread. This session is designed to help HR professionals and business leaders wrap up the year efficiently and prepare for a successful 2025. Whether you're a long-time client, a prospect, or new to the field, this guide is packed with practical advice, compliance reminders, and strategies to help you succeed.
Setting the Stage: HR Starts With You
Before diving into tasks, let's focus on you—the HR leader. It's easy to let work take over your identity, but remember to prioritize your health and well-being. Reflect on the following:
- Personal Growth: How will you learn and grow in 2025? Consider certifications, such as SHRM or HRCI, to boost your expertise.
- Professional Impact: Are there areas in HR you haven't explored yet? Volunteer for projects to broaden your experience.
- Stress Reduction: Address lingering challenges and make time to connect with friends and laugh. Schedule these moments like any other priority.
Leveraging Technology in HR
Embracing technology is essential for HR success. From payroll to compliance, here's how tools can simplify your workload:
- Automation: Use systems like isolved to streamline onboarding, training, and reporting.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): While AI is helpful for creating drafts and automating processes, avoid relying on it for complex compliance scenarios.
- Predictive Analytics: Tools like predictive people analytics can provide insights into turnover metrics, DEI data, and more.
Compliance Must-Knows for 2024 and Beyond
Staying compliant is a critical part of HR. Here are key areas to monitor:
- OSHA Requirements: Ensure accurate recordkeeping (300/300A logs) and post summaries from February to April.
- EEO-1 Reports: Prepare data audits for submission if you meet employee or federal contractor thresholds.
- End-of-Year Reporting: Manage Medicare Part D notices, ACA forms (1094/1095), and state-specific requirements.
- Wage and Hour Compliance: 2024 saw a lot of change and back-and-forth in this area. Stay strong in the basics, and keep up with proposed changes so you can make plans ahead of time.
Improving the Pre-Hire and Onboarding Process
Your pre-hire and onboarding strategies set the tone for employee engagement. Here's how to make a great first impression:
- Transparency: Keep job postings current and clearly communicate pay ranges, especially as state laws evolve.
- Candidate Experience: Ensure follow-up communications are timely and professional. Even automated emails can leave a lasting impression.
- Training Tools: Use learning management systems (LMS) to automate required training and create personalized onboarding paths.
Building a High-Performance Culture
Reflect your organization's values in every interaction, from job postings to workplace policies:
- Handbook Updates: Review policies annually to ensure they're relevant, compliant, and reflect your culture.
- Employee Feedback: Conduct surveys and act on results. Unaddressed feedback can harm engagement.
- Consistent Messaging: Align your brand, policies, and practices for a cohesive employee experience.
Year-End Organization Tips
The end of the year is a perfect time to reset and prepare:
- Clean Up Data: Audit your payroll and HR systems to ensure accurate tax elections, PTO accruals, and contact information.
- Budget Planning: Review contracts, benefits, and compliance needs to create a thoughtful 2025 budget.
- Training: Offer supervisors compliance and management skills training to build a strong leadership foundation. (We can help with that!)
2025 Goals: Growth, Engagement, and Strategy
As we move into 2025, keep these priorities in mind:
- Fill Gaps: Address compliance and skills gaps with audits and targeted training.
- Optimize Processes: Streamline workflows with technology and refine metrics to measure success effectively.
- Employee Engagement: Improve onboarding, communication, and workplace culture for better retention and performance.
Need Help? Thread is Here for You
At Thread, we're passionate about supporting HR professionals. Whether it's compliance guidance, handbook creation, or training for your team, our Managed HR Services are designed to scale with your needs. Let us help you take your HR strategy to the next level.
Looking Ahead: Scott Mastley's philosophy is simple yet impactful: "Have a positive impact on the life of another person every day." Let's take this approach into 2025 by prioritizing meaningful connections and continuous growth.
