HR's Focus

by Paula Santonocito

HRmarketer.com, a leading marketing and public relations service for companies selling to human resource departments, has released "Trends in HR Marketing: HR Buyer's Behavior — What to Expect in 2010," the fourth report in an annual series that provides a look at HR department requirements and projected purchases.

The report, available for free download at the company's website, includes several findings worth noting:

- Twenty-six (26) percent of HR buyers plan to increase their budgets for HR-related products and services in 2010.

- As a group, HR buyers plan to increase their budgets by 25 percent in 2010 for corporate social networking tools, employee wellness programs, management and leadership development initiatives, performance management systems, and other training and development programs.

- Key "pain points" for HR in 2010 include assessments and selection, applicant tracking and talent management systems, coaching and mentoring, corporate social networking, I-9 compliance and E-Verify, employee self-service, and work-life programs.

If you're a provider of HR products and services, the report is certainly worth reviewing. Meanwhile, if you're a buyer of HR products and services, the report offers insight into where other companies (your competitors) will focus in 2010.