The Role of HR in Remote Recruitment

After the pandemic, human resources (HR) departments developed a key role in remote recruitment, supporting companies with legal issues, and virtual Onboarding process strategies. 

As the name suggests, HR teams deal with a company's human capital - the company’s employees. During the hiring or recruitment process, HR supports the recruitment team in attracting, interviewing, and Onboarding new employees. In addition, remote HR role and responsibilities cover everything from team-building strategies to solid training programs.

People-related activities might sound vague or ambiguous. Yet, lousy HR teams drastically impact a business's performance, starting from the hiring process. If your HR team hires someone who doesn't fit your company’s culture, you will waste your company’s time and resources. 

Why Is HR Important In Remote Recruitment?

Quantifying the impact of human resources-related activities is often challenging but not impossible. Let's look at some Research showing how HR in remote recruitment has an impact on the hiring process:

• 86% of recruiters believe that we are in a candidate-driven market.
• In the next few years, HR departments expect to invest in predictive analysis (60%), process automation (53%), and artificial intelligence (47%) for the hiring processes.
• 80% of U.S. businesses already use HR software or plan to in the next couple of years.
• Finally, 84% of recruiters highlighted how 'culture fit' has become a crucial factor in selecting candidates - Yet, 61% of new hires never get training on company culture.

While automated HR software is getting more popular, companies and recruiters shift their attention to team building and company culture. A welcoming environment during and after the hiring process is more important than ever in a virtual setting. And it's where remote HR teams come into play to support the hiring and Onboarding process - Just consider that a negative company's review on Glassdoor leads to over 50% rejection of job offers from the same company. 

Here are the primary HR human-related activities that support and improve the hiring process. 

5 Work from Home HR Activities Supporting Remote Recruitment 

1. Compensation and Benefits

Working in a distributed team usually means working with people living in different cities and countries. When posting a job ad, HR teams can help you set a fair compensation balancing competencies and local living costs. In addition, they take care of negotiations on benefits, local holidays, and health coverage rates. 

Some companies also entrust HR departments with payroll and salary rise - although most businesses prefer bookkeepers,  payroll  software or service providers. 

Remote HR is valuable support when hiring in different countries, leaving recruiters time to focus on screening and interviewing candidates. 

2. Training and Development

For a company to succeed, innovative technology isn't the only winning card. Skilled and prepared candidates are also fundamental to win over your competitors. As mentioned initially, HR departments take care of human capital, including employee orientation, specialized and leadership training, and professional development.

Training and development is an essential component of remote HR. Depending on the type of candidates, HR departments target instructional programs on virtual tools or specific training activities. This external support to develop new skills helps candidates enter the workflow faster - improving your team performance and results. 

3. Statutory Compliance

Hiring in different geographical areas means foreign employment and labor laws. After these challenging times, governments are adjusting their legislations to remote work and pandemic restrictions.

 Regulations like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are constantly updated, among dozens of other laws. This is why HR compliance is an excellent support to your recruitment team. It helps identify the best areas to hire candidates and avoid legal issues with federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Workplace Safety

No one likes to work in a discriminatory and threatening workplace, even in a virtual setting - which is why the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) exists. Remote HR teams are a valuable asset when it comes to creating a safe and positive remote work environment. A specialized team can develop a healthy work setting respecting deadlines and the company's goals. 

5. Virtual Onboarding and Team Building 

Finally, HR teams support managers with virtual onboarding and teambuilding. Working in a virtual setting can feel confusing and isolating. Some people are new to virtual offices, while others are used to them. The HR department meets the candidates during the hiring process and figures out what are the best strategies to welcome them. 

A company's onboarding documentation should be the same for everyone. A professional Human Resources team can find the nuances to make the process as fast as possible and create a solid team.  

Conclusion

Hiring new candidates has always been a challenge. However, the so-called remote revolution changed the rules of the game. To be competitive in the market and attract the right candidate, an employer must constantly update strategies and processes. For this reason, having HR teams skilled in remote recruitment is one of the most valuable strategies. Dedicated HR departments can help you find suitable candidates and write a fair job offer to attract worldwide talent.