In this increasingly high-tech world with so much of what we do computerized, it is not surprising to have employees demand access to human resources options online. One item that is particularly in demand is the ability to complete and submit a timesheet over the internet. If you are a Human Resources professional who is fearful of speaking to your employer about this option and having your request denied due to lack of funds, there are some strategies you can employ to increase your chances of approval.
The first thing to do is to make sure that the company’s board of directors and/or high level executives understand exactly what Human Resources self-service technology is, what it does, and how it can benefit your organization. Chances are, your employer would like to see you spend less time on administration and more time on employee issues and supporting the company’s strategic goals. However, they won’t know just how this technology could help you do that unless you tell them. Before you approach these executives, be sure you know the answers to any questions they may ask. This would include the cost of the product, a timeline for implementation, a calculation of how much time this new technology will save both the Human Resources department and all other company employees, and how that time savings translates into benefits for the business in the future.
The return on investment of the expenditure will be a critical component of your presentation. Keep in mind there are two ways of measuring this. The first is hard monetary savings, or direct costs, such as no longer having to pay Human Resources staff overtime to get their job done due to the time savings provided by the technology. The second is soft savings, or indirect costs, such as a standardization of processes, improved data integrity, and improved employee access to information.