In today’s business world, employee teamwork is one of the cornerstones of a productive and successful company. Consequently, there are times when employees move from team to team within the company. While this can be a decision that originates from management, moving teams can sometimes be at the employee’s own request. When the employee initiates the request, however, is it necessarily the right move for the business? Below are some things HR staff needs to think about when an employee asks to move teams.
Evaluate their efforts
If an employee wants to move teams, it’s necessary to evaluate their performance to see if they would be the right fit for a different position. HR needs to evaluate their weaknesses as well as their strengths, and see if they have the right skillset for a different position (those who want to go into a position that is creative from one that is analytical may not have what it takes for such a move). Moreover, it’s important to look at the employee’s work style. If they are a hard worker and are dedicated, but where they are just doesn’t seem to be working, then it may be a good idea to send them into a more suitable position. On the other hand, if the employee comes to HR about wanting to move only after being at the company for a few weeks because they are dissatisfied with their current role then they might not have given the position a chance. In the latter case, HR can talk to the employee about the problems they are running into and help them get back on track.
Talk to their co-workers and managers
When an employee comes to HR asking for an internal transfer, it is important to know why. There must be a legitimate reason for moving teams, and here you can not only talk to the employee but also to their co-workers. HR staff can find out if and how the employee fits with the current team, what their work ethic is like, and if their reasons for wanting to move are valid ones. It’s important to also talk to managers, not only to check on the employee’s performance, but also to get the manager’s input to see if the employee is more suited to a different role.
Benefits of interviewing
One of the best ways to find out if an employee is serious about wanting to move teams is to interview them for the position as if they were an external job candidate. HR staff should ask the same questions as they would of a candidate who is new to the company and compare how their answers rate with those new successful hires to the organization. Those who are serious about moving teams will act as if they are going for a job interview and not like the whole process is a formality that they do not have to take seriously. They will be prepared, point out their contributions and have clear, valid reasons as to why they want to move to a new team. They will have done their research on the new team they want to join and will treat the matter as if they are going to interview at a new company. Those who don’t prepare, who do not take the interview seriously, or think they have an advantage simply because they are already employed at the company, are ones who should not be granted an internal transfer.
Before deciding on an employee’s request to move teams, it is important to take several steps which are necessary to see why that employee wants to move and if it will be the right fit. By taking these steps, HR staff can ensure that they have the right people working at the right places within the organization.
