As the manager of a business, do you have a Human Resources department? Probably not. How about a Human Resources Director? Really? Do you employ any sort of Human Resources person at all, perhaps just an advisor? What about HR Software to help manage your people?
If your answer is "no" to all these questions then you are not on your own. Very few small or medium businesses feel they can afford to employ a Human Resources professional and choose to handle the 'people stuff' themselves, either by choice or what is seen as financial necessity.
A few years ago, an Institute of Directors survey of 200 heads of small and medium sized companies showed that upward of 55% chose to look after HR issues by themselves, rather than go down the recruitment or outsourcing route.
Even though many agreed that finding the right staff and then keeping them was a chore, as well as which keeping up with changes to employment legislation was difficult, they still did not want to give up that control.
(Of course, if you are juggling running the business with recruitment, performance management, employee relations, training and development, etc., etc. it begs the question just how much "control" you actually have...)
This quote pretty much sums up the findings: "HR issues take a significant portion of directors' time, but it's typically done on a reactive basis."
On the one hand, this stance is perfectly understandable; not employing someone can be a significant cost saving. Besides, some of these HR types are very serious about their job and might cause you all sorts of difficulties by pointing out things you need to change.
Although, to be fair, not changing could work out more expensive than not employing them in the first place; either because sooner or later you end up at a tribunal, or simply because staff who don't feel well-treated don't tend to do their best work for you.
If however, you are set on the DIY option, here are a few simple things you could do to take a more proactive approach to your HR.
- Register with the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and get regular updates (it's free)
- Join Personnel Today's HR Space forum (also free) and get access to plenty of HR advice
- Buy into an affordable HR software package to guide you through the day-to-day, time consuming stuff(time off, sick absence, disciplinary, grievances, timekeeping, etc.). My advice is to find software that throws all the HR forms and documents you could need and if they are able to guide you through HR processes too, all the better. It needn't be expensive if you do your research.
- Try and keep up with the latest employment law
- Consider signing up to an outsourcing service. You will find excellent HR services through solicitor's firms that are very cost effective.
If you try one or two of these to start with and then at least you'll be looking ahead when it comes to Human Resources, rather than looking over your shoulder.
