Provide substantive advice to the Board of Directors regarding the foreseeable future of CNN.
The challenge:
You have been hired by the CNN Board of Directors to be an HR consultant because the company is still dealing with the aftermath of it's troubled year under the leadership of former CEO Chris Licht.
The year he worked for CNN included layoffs, declining profits, historically low ratings, poor performance of its streaming service CNN+ and controversial issues with two prominent anchors (Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon) who have been fired. Employee morale is rock bottom. Your advice to the Board of Directors needs to address the following:
- From a strategic HR perspective - what should happen in the near term (next 6 months). Keep your strategy focused on tasks that are within the purview of an HR department.
- In terms of recruitment & selection of employees (from writers and camera crews to producers and anchors ), which roles are you most in need of and what do you do to attract a diverse talent pool that will help keep CNN in the mix as a strong player in television news?
- What about compensation & benefits? Are employees paid appropriately? What might a new compensation/motivation/incentive program look like for CNN? Should it vary by role?
- What should change regarding training & development and performance management to improve the retention of employees?
- CNN is one of a few news agencies whose writers haven't unionized, but the threat is there. What should management consider doing for their writers to help ensure they stay non-union?
- What other suggestions do you have to improve the overall well-being of CNN as a global company from an HR perspective?
REMEMBER - this is about your HR advice to the Board - not a summary of what happened under Chris Licht's leadership. They already know all of that
What do I mean by solid research?
Full Answer Section
Recruitment & Selection
The following roles are most in need at CNN:
- Writers
- Camera crews
- Producers
- Anchors
To attract a diverse talent pool, CNN can:
- Partner with minority professional organizations and universities.
- Post job openings on a variety of websites, including those that cater to diverse candidates.
- Use inclusive language in job postings and descriptions.
- Conduct unconscious bias training for hiring managers.
Compensation & Benefits
To ensure that employees are paid appropriately, CNN can conduct a salary benchmarking analysis to compare its salaries to those of other media companies. CNN should also consider offering competitive benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and paid time off.
A new compensation/motivation/incentive program for CNN could include:
- Performance-based bonuses
- Spot awards for outstanding work
- Profit-sharing plans
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee stock purchase plans
The compensation program could vary by role, with higher compensation for more senior and experienced employees.
Training & Development
CNN can improve the retention of employees by providing them with opportunities for training and development. This could include offering in-house training programs, tuition reimbursement, and access to online learning resources. CNN can also focus on developing training programs that are specific to the needs of different roles and departments.
Performance Management
CNN can improve its performance management system by:
- Setting clear and measurable goals for employees
- Providing regular feedback to employees
- Conducting regular performance reviews
- Rewarding employees for their accomplishments
Unionization
To help ensure that its writers do not unionize, CNN can:
- Address the concerns that writers have about working conditions, pay, and benefits.
- Create a more inclusive and diverse workplace.
- Improve communication and transparency between management and employees.
- Promote a culture of respect and collaboration.
Other Suggestions
Other suggestions for improving the overall well-being of CNN as a global company from an HR perspective include:
- Creating a more flexible and remote work environment.
- Offering employee wellness programs, such as mental health counseling and fitness classes.
- Providing employees with opportunities to volunteer and engage in their communities.
- Promoting a culture of work-life balance.
Solid Research
Solid research for this HR strategy would include:
- Conducting an employee morale survey
- Conducting a salary benchmarking analysis
- Reviewing the best practices of other media companies
- Consulting with HR experts
By implementing these strategies, CNN can improve employee morale, retention, and productivity. This will help CNN to remain a strong player in the television news industry.