ADP Research Shows Persistent Disconnect Between HR and Employees

 ADP, a global provider of human capital management (HCM) solutions, has shared findings from new ADP Research Institute studies on the relationships between human resources (HR) departments and employees. The studies found a persistent disconnect between HR and the workforce regardless of company size or location. The disconnection was also found to extend to senior leadership, who also appear out of touch with employee attitudes and perceptions.

Areas with the most pronounced difficulties include:

• Employees rank the level of their compensation and benefits less favorably than HR or management does.
• With the exception of the U.S. workforce, employees rate their work/life balance significantly lower than the perceptions of HR or senior management.
• Career opportunities, a key driver for keeping employees, receive significantly lower ratings from employees than from HR.
• Senior leadership is also rated less positively by employees than by HR; sometimes as low as employees rate the HR function itself.

Employees rated many management functions, especially those dealing with workforce and talent management, much lower than does HR. This was true in all geographies and across nine different talent management areas surveyed, including opportunity for professional growth, training and support from management. Employee perceptions tended to be lower as company size increased.

The relationship with HR also has a major impact on employee retention. In the U.S., two out of five employees indicated an intention to leave their companies within the next 12 months. According to the study, dissatisfaction with HR processes, policies and functions is a major driver behind intent to leave.