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5 ways an employee file management solves high-priority HR challenges

HR teams play a crucial role in managing and maintaining employee information. Here's five improvements that come with a digitized approach to employee data management.

Person pulls a file from a large filing cabinet.

An effective employee file management solution brings visibility to your most document-intensive processes. Electronic employee files are stored securely in a centralized document repository.

As a result, confidential data is protected and employee information is easily accessible from a single location.

Workflow functionality lets you easily route documents to managers, employees or other departments, and track any actions taken.

The result is better, more efficient management of the entire employee lifecycle — and all the documents that go with it.

Challenges for HR teams

Costs of handling paper documents

Tracking, filing and looking up paper HR forms all consume staff time. Storing paper files requires costly office space and off-site storage. Organizations also risk losing documents in the case of fire or natural disasters.

Risks of non-compliance and fines

Paper-based HR files make proving compliance difficult and time-consuming. Organizations must prove compliance with federal and state regulations or risk substantial fines.

Decentralized HR files

Unstructured HR information results in duplicate documents, lost forms and slow response to compliance audits. Multiple files at regional offices, distribution centers or retail locations make it difficult to find documents and prove compliance.

Disparate systems

Multiple systems and lack of integration with human resources information systems (HRIS) complicate access to electronic documents. HR staff members must log into different systems to gain access to the complete employee file.

Benefits

1. Access to employee documents instantly

Centralized management of electronic files speeds up response to audits and employee requests, allowing staff to focus on key HR issues, such as employee incentive plans, long-term hiring strategies and other important initiatives.

2. Greater management of the employee lifecycle

Electronic employee files streamline employee management from onboarding through separation. Documents are readily available for any HR process, such as a performance review, disciplinary action, leave of absence, life change events and tuition reimbursement.

3. Extended functionality of HRIS and other systems

Staff members can access employee files from the HRIS, applicant tracking or other programs without logging in and out of systems, which saves time and increases the value of your current systems.

4. Faster access to information

HR professionals get to answer employee requests faster and streamline processes with electronic forms.

5. Lower storage fees

Documents are stored in an electronic document repository, freeing up storage and space and minimizing loss due to fires, floods or other disasters.

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Features of a connected HR employee management solution

Forms can be brought into the centralized document repository from any source, including email, fax and mail.

Workflow automatically routes documents for processing, based on work queues and tasks.

Security features restrict access to only those who need to review forms.

Records management features support automatic deletion and archiving of expired forms.

Integration features allow access to the employee file from the employee record in the HRIS.

Employee file management in action

Jessica, an HR generalist, receives a request from a manager for a copy of an employee’s annual review.

She finds the employee in your HRIS and either leverages automatic embedded search or clicks on the appropriate icon or link.

Perceptive Content returns a list of documents that have been linked to the employee’s record. Jessica selects the one she needs.

Perceptive Content Integration with existing HR systems

Seamless integration means just that — Perceptive Content HR solutions work smoothly within existing HR systems, including Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, Lawson and others, without programming.

Here’s what that looks like in real-time:

  1. Jessica, an HR generalist, receives a request from a manager for a copy of an employee’s annual review.
  2. She finds the employee in your HRIS and either leverages automatic embedded search or clicks on the appropriate icon or link.
  3. Perceptive Content returns a list of documents that have been linked to the employee’s record. Jessica selects the one she needs.

Deployment is easy with Perceptive Content as users enjoy single click access to documents from the software they’re already using daily.