From finding job candidates to managing employee performance and everything in between, the human elements of running a pharmacy are an inevitable challenge for owners. But if you can’t afford a full-time human resources manager, the burden of HR doesn’t have to fall squarely on your shoulders.
Human resources management software can help lighten the load by automating the most common HR tasks.
HR management tech is typically highly customizable, allowing you to build a system that suits the unique needs of your pharmacy. Not all HR software will offer every benefit, so know which features are at the top of your priority list as you research different options.
What Does HR Software Do?
Here are some common functions that HR software can take off your plate.Hiring
When it comes time to find the next team member for your pharmacy, HR software that includes an applicant tracking system (ATS) can help to streamline the process.
Instead of keeping a stack of resumes on your desk and trying to remember where exactly you posted about the open position, ATS will help you keep all your candidates in one place.
Because most ATS options integrate with online job boards, you can open job opportunities to a diverse pool of applicants to ensure you’re attracting people with the right qualifications. If you get a large number of applicants, ATS software will help you screen through resumes by looking for certain keywords.
Onboarding
Businesses that have a formal onboarding process have 50 percent better retention than businesses that don’t, and HR software can make that process simple.
When a new hire starts on their first day, use your HR software to collect all the important paperwork in one place. Create a new hire welcome manual within the software to introduce them to the standard operating procedures and have them complete any training.
You can even customize your new hire manual based on each position in your pharmacy so front-end clerks don’t have to wade through training intended for pharmacy technicians.
And, if new hires have questions about their position, they can refer back to the software, which will have all the most important information in one central location.
Benefits administration
Once you’ve hired and onboarded your pharmacy staff, HR software can help you manage the day-to-day administrative tasks that come along with having employees. It’s a central place for you to manage healthcare benefits, paid time off, sick time, payroll, and more.
This type of software is usually known as a Human Resources Information System (HRIS), and it allows you to centralize all the different parts of your benefits administration.
HRIS software may also include other functions, like those related to hiring and onboarding, but if it doesn’t, your HRIS software should be able to integrate with your hiring and onboarding software.
Employee management
With the right HR management software, you can get more out of your employees, and your employees can get more out of their jobs.
Basic functions like timecards can help you keep track of employees’ habits, but you can take your management to the next level by using the software to make notes on individual performance, track goals, and if necessary, even create performance improvement plans.
Some HR software options allow you to anonymously gauge worker satisfaction, and you can use that information to make improvements to your pharmacy. When you embrace these features, you can improve employee retention and boost overall performance.
Benefits of HR software
Using automation technology, HR management software can make previously tedious tasks like payroll or benefits administration a breeze. Here’s how you’ll see a return on investment once you start using HR software.
1. Reduced costs
If you don’t use HR software, you have two main options for managing HR needs: hiring a staff member to do the work or bringing in a third party. Letting a computer program do the heavy lifting is a more economical option.
Because payroll and benefits are one of the most expensive parts of running a business, HR management software can also help you find more ways to reduce costs, like scheduling employees more efficiently.
HR software can also minimize the occurrence of costly payroll mistakes that have the potential to result in IRS penalties.
2. Improved legal compliance
There are a lot of state and federal laws that come along with being an employer — and you probably don’t know all of them.
But your HR software does. It can help you remain compliant with local and national labor regulations so you can stay on the right side of the law.
As regulations change, your HR software will automatically stay up to date on the latest requirements, meaning that you won’t be caught off guard by a policy you didn’t realize had been updated.
3. More data opportunities
Centralizing your human resources information into a single application allows you to take an all-encompassing look at the human habits that are making an impact on your pharmacy’s business.
Dig into the data around your benefits package, for example, and you can find out how they are being utilized and leverage that information to tailor a benefits package that meets your employees’ needs at a lower cost.
You can also identify trends related to employee turnover to improve retention or intervene with individual employees when the time-tracking tools show a pattern of tardiness.
When you embrace HR management software, you gain access to a treasure trove of data that can be used to improve the workplace.
4. Better time management
With a do-it-yourself attitude toward human resources, you will inevitably spend the time you could be spending with patients trying to figure out the nuances of a new local labor law or sorting through a stack of job applications.
With HR software, all your human resources needs are in one place, streamlining your workflow and saving you time. It automates things like payroll so you don’t have to worry about employees getting paid on time.
It also empowers employees to take control of their own human resources needs. Employees who have questions about their benefits or pay should be able to log in to the HR management site to find the answers on their own instead of asking you.
A Member-Owned Company Serving Independent Pharmacies
PBA Health is dedicated to helping independent pharmacies reach their full potential on the buy-side of their business. Founded and run by pharmacists, PBA Health serves independent pharmacies with group purchasing services, wholesaler contract negotiations, proprietary purchasing tools, and more.
An HDA member, PBA Health operates its own NABP-accredited warehouse with more than 6,000 SKUs, including brands, generics, narcotics CII-CV, cold-storage products, and over-the-counter (OTC) products — offering the lowest prices in the secondary market.
