When beginning your start-up and choosing your management team, HR might not be a role that you have given much consideration to. Although it’s more exciting to think about the design, the marketing campaigns etc. HR is a function that shouldn’t be ignored. Below are four jobs HR carry out that you might not have known about and are thinking about when building your business.
- Efficiency
Although again this might not be a job you directly relate to HR, when it comes to the roles of the people within your organization, what they do on a day-to-day basis, and how well everyone is performing, HR is key. You should carry out staff appraisals on a yearly basis to maximize efficiency, and this is something that a HR consultant will be very experienced in – and can train and coach you and the rest of the team through if necessary. Arranging regular appraisals and line manager meetings is much of what your HR professional will do.
- Recruitment
Recruitment is a huge part of any HR professional’s expertise. They will be educated and experienced on the different methods of interview and alternative recruitment processes, and will have the legal knowledge to ensure that your company remains within the bounds of the law at all times, and doesn’t end up facing discrimination charges. These kinds of charges can be immensely damaging for small business, but your HR expert will guide you through the recruitment process, avoiding any pitfalls.
- Contracts
The contracts for your employees will fall under the remit of HR and, depending on the size of your business, this might be in discussion with the line manager. However, all employees will ordinarily have a basic contract which outlines the foundational activities the company expects them to perform, as well as additional duties, any uniform, obligations in terms of hours etc. Even if you’re a small start-up, it’s worth considering contracts. It might have been an all-hands-on-deck approach initially, but now you’re rising up the ranks it’s vital to take things like contracts more seriously to avoid legal action later on.
- Legal knowledge
There are many legal mistakes made by start-up businesses and, when you’re a tiny company, these are less noticeable. But, as soon as you begin growing and developing as an organization, so will your visibility. A HR professional will have the know-how and expertise to point out potential red-flag areas, and keep you on the straight and narrow. If your business is only just emerging, and finances are tight, then it’s worth considering outsourcing your HR consultancy. HR Outsourcing Services are increasingly popular, and an idea for small and developing businesses to get all the expertise and assistance they need, but without the cost of having an employee on the payroll.
This is also an excellent solution if your business doesn’t currently generate the workload for a HR professional to maintain on a full-time basis. If this is the case, then you can seek your HR consultant when you need advice, and the rest of the time continue doing what you do best – building your business.
