Kickstart 2025: Essential HR Priorities!
As 2025 begins, it’s time to set the stage for a productive and successful year. For small businesses and dairy farmers, human resources play a crucial role in building strong teams and creating a positive workplace environment. Here are five essential HR priorities to focus on as you head into the new year.
1. Refresh Employment Agreements and Policies
Start the year on the right foot by ensuring your HR documentation is up-to-date. This includes:
Reviewing employment agreements to comply with the latest regulations.
Updating workplace policies, such as leave entitlements, performance management, and employee conduct.
Ensuring new hires have clear onboarding documents that outline expectations and responsibilities.
Clear, compliant documentation helps protect your business and provides clarity for your team.
2. Enhance Recruitment and Onboarding
A smooth recruitment and onboarding process sets the tone for employee success. For 2025:
Assess your recruitment strategy—are you attracting the right candidates?
Create or update templates for job descriptions, interviews, and reference checks.
Develop a welcoming onboarding plan that helps new hires integrate quickly and understand your business values.
Investing time in hiring and onboarding ensures you bring in the right talent and retain them.
3. Focus on Retention and Engagement
Keeping your team engaged is vital to reducing turnover and boosting productivity. Consider:
Implementing a recognition programme to celebrate milestones and achievements.
Encouraging regular feedback from employees to understand their needs and concerns.
Offering opportunities for professional growth, such as training and upskilling programmes.
Engaged employees are happier, more productive, and more likely to stay long-term.
4. Set Clear Performance Goals
Help your team succeed by providing clarity around expectations and performance. For 2025, aim to:
Develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals for each employee.
Schedule regular performance reviews to provide constructive feedback and identify areas for growth.
Align individual goals with the broader objectives of your business or farm.
Clear goals keep everyone on the same page and moving in the right direction.
5. Prioritise Compliance and Training
HR compliance is critical for protecting your business and your team. This year, make sure to:
Stay on top of changes to employment law and ensure your practices align.
Provide training opportunities for staff to grow their skills and stay updated on industry standards.
Offer workshops or refresher courses on key areas like employment rights, diversity, and workplace behaviour.
A well-trained team is not only more effective but also helps you stay compliant and minimise risks.
Ready to Kickstart 2025?
HR is the foundation of any successful small business or dairy farm. By prioritising these areas, you’ll set your team—and your business—up for a strong, successful year.
At Lone Star Consulting, we’re here to help you navigate your HR needs with practical solutions tailored to New Zealand’s farming and small business sectors. From recruitment templates to performance review tools, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s make 2025 your best year yet—get in touch today!
