What Are Appropriate Metrics to Use to Evaluate HR Managers?

What are fair and appropriate metrics to use to evaluate and hold accountable an HR manager? Where do you find the right benchmarks? EDGE HR managers contributed to this discussion at the Jan. 27 EDGE HR Managers meeting, the first of four in 2009. Ideas and experiences shared include:

• Link any measurements to profitability.
• Balanced scorecard: Link drivers to the bottom line by following profitability upstream. HR may route through Operations to link to the bottom line. (Approach applies to all jobs within a company).
• SHRM and ERC may have benchmarking data.
• If no applicable benchmarking data are available, use past performance as a baseline.
• Select metrics that can enhance your ability to contribute to the organization.
• Survey the parties you serve. Try to make the questions produce actionable information and constructive input.
• What metrics make sense? Turnover, time to fill (positions), cost of benefits, 401k participation?
• Helps to put yourself, as a manager, in the owner’s shoes.