3.02 – Resolving HR Issues
Hiring your first employee brings with it a range of human resources (HR) issues. These employees have needs, privileges, and rights protected by various government agencies and laws. This lesson highlights key HR concerns and provides suggestions on how to handle them effectively.
Identifying Important HR Concerns
Here is a partial list of HR issues that can attract government scrutiny:
- Sexual Harassment
- Discrimination
- Wrongful Discharge
- Hiring Violations
- Workplace Safety Violations
- Working Conditions Violations
- Wage and Hour Violations
Concerns for employee welfare are necessary due to past misconduct by some business owners. As a law-abiding and caring business owner, you must navigate these regulations. As your company grows, so does the complexity of HR issues.
Dealing with HR Issues in Three Stages
How you manage HR issues depends on the stage of HR development your company is in.
Stage 1: Handling HR Issues Yourself
In the start-up stage, with fewer than ten employees, you handle HR issues personally. This means managing working conditions, drug and alcohol policies, and employee conduct, among other responsibilities. This stage is hands-on and can be time-consuming.
When dealing with complex issues like harassment, wrongful termination, or employee theft, consult a professional HR consultant or lawyer before taking action.
Stage 2: Delegating HR Responsibilities
As your company grows, consider delegating HR tasks to a full-time bookkeeper, office manager, or outsource to a professional employer organisation. This delegation helps manage the increasing HR workload while allowing you to focus on other business areas.
Stage 3: Hiring an HR Professional
When your business reaches between 50 and 100 employees, you can hire a dedicated Director of HR. This role involves managing the detailed and ongoing HR tasks that come with a larger workforce. Recruiting for this position can be done through online resources such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter.
