One of HR's biggest challenges is keeping personnel information organized and accessible. Electronic filing software makes this easier than ever. 

One of the biggest challenges of using a paper filing system is actually keeping the information organized. Filing cabinets that have been in use for a number of years can inevitably become very disorganized. This makes finding files an enormous challenge and keeping track of required documentation in folders becomes impossible. 

In a bustling Human Resources department, this can be a serious issue. Having the ability to keep personnel information stored in compliance with regulations like HIPAA/HITECH and ensuring that information is easily available to authorized staff is paramount in HR. To make file management and document retrieval easier, many Human Resources departments have switched over to electronic filing software. 

Index Files for a Higher Level of Organization 

"Indexed" filing systems are highly preferable to traditional folder-based systems. Indexed systems categorize your documents by different identifiers. For example, an electronic filing system for a Human Resources department may index documents by things like: Status, Employee Name/ID, Department, Division, Office Location, etc. 

The system will use this indexing information to automatically file your documents in the correct location. This way, there is never a need to manually drill down through various levels of folders to find the correct location to store your document. You also no longer need to worry about naming conventions. Best of all, you can retrieve documents based upon their indexing information as well. 

Instantly Retrieve Personnel Information With Index Search 

Since an indexed filing system will keep all of your electronic personnel files categorized for you, retrieving documents becomes extremely quick and easy. A simple "Index Search" can bring back exactly the documents you're looking for with just a couple of clicks. You can search across any of the categories you have set up in your electronic filing system and cross-reference categories to narrow down search results further. 

Here are a few common on-the-fly searches for an HR staff member, for example. 

- "John Doe's" entire folder. 
- The "Performance Review" section of "John Doe's" folder. 
- All "I-9" forms for "Active" employees. 
- All "Onboarding" documents for "Active" staff added to the system in the past "6 months". 
- All "Benefits" documents from the past "2 years" for "Active" staff in the "Sales" department from the "New York" office. 

By utilizing an index search to retrieve documents, HR staff can bring back exactly the files they are interested in with just a couple of clicks. 

Keep Track of Required & Expiring Documents in Staff Folders 

When you can't find the files you're looking for, it can become nearly impossible to keep track of required documents in employee folders. Indexing fixes this. Since all of your electronic personnel files are categorized, you can report on all of that information. This is commonly used to ensure all staff folders are up-to-date with all required documentation via an "Exception Report". An "Exception" or "Audit Report" will query your electronic filing system for any documents you deem as required in staff folders. You can also have the same report look for expiring documents to ensure all of your personnel folders are up-to-date. 

For example, staff may be required to have the following 3 documents in their folder at all times: An I-9, a W-4 and a current Handbook Acknowledgement. Your staff can access a report for this information on the fly or have it automatically emailed to them. The report will tell you exactly which staff members are missing which specific required documents from their folders and which employees have a Handbook Acknowledgement that is due to expire within the next 60 days. In this way, HR can always be assured that all employee folders are up-to-date with all required documentation. 

Please visit www.DynaFile.com for more information on going paperless in HR.