Human resources: the department everyone loves to hate. While it often gets a bad rap, human resources actually cover many important functions that are critical to employee happiness and success. At a small business, you might not have an employee dedicated to human resources yet, meaning you are handling a lot of tasks on your own. To help, we have rounded up some tips to help make sure you have the best possible human resource management!

1. Have a complete employee handbook

It is much easier to enforce something when it is in writing and this also provides legal protection. As a result, you should create a very detailed employee handbook that gives descriptions of all policies and regulations. When new employees are onboarded, have them sign an agreement that states that they have read and agreed to the handbook.

1. Watch out for overtime violations

Overtime laws vary by state and can be pretty complicated, like get out your calculator complicated. It can be especially difficult because employees don’t always pay attention to how many hours they are working, so staying an extra 30 minutes to help out could actually bump them to overtime pay without them even realizing. Additionally, these laws can apply to salaried employees as well as hourly employees, so be sure to read up on your state laws and set aside a chunk of time every week to review employee timesheets.

1. Create a feedback process

Even if it can sometimes be hard, you’ll want to hear feedback from your employees so that you can adjust accordingly and create the best workplace possible! Implementing a systematic way for employees to leave anonymous feedback is a great way to prioritize the employee experience at your company.

1. Prioritize onboarding

When a new employee starts at the company, the onboarding process is their first introduction to the company culture and is critical in giving them the confidence to settle into their role. A disorganized process can lead them to feel unsure and less like they fit in. Develop an orientation process that you follow with every new employee and consider matching newcomers with an employee mentor to help them feel more comfortable.

1. Focus on employee engagement

Investing time and resources into employee engagement is one of the biggest things you can do to retain top talent. This investment can really pay off in the long run because high retention rates can result in a smoother workflow and will save you money on hiring. A few ways to boost engagement is to give employees regular feedback, find ways to reward and recognize them, and provide opportunities for additional training and growth within the company.

1. Know the laws

There are a lot of laws that you need to be familiar with in order to protect your company from inadvertently violating one, which could put you in a difficult legal spot. A few of the major categories you need to be familiar with include: tax laws, overtime laws, child labor laws, equal rights legislation, and non-resident labor regulations. This may seem overwhelming at first, but a little bit of research can go a long way in making sure you are legally protected.

1. Develop a comprehensive online tracking system

Rather than keeping paper copies of your HR documents which can become disorganized or lost, spend time setting up a very organized, online HR tracking system where you can keep all of your information in one place. It may take more time initially to develop this type of system, but in the long-run, it will be more efficient and prevent mistakes.

1. Classify your employees correctly

This is a common misstep in new businesses that can lead to major legal headaches. Taxes are complicated and as soon as you begin adding more employees to the mix it becomes even more nuanced. To keep the IRS at bay, make sure to classify every employee correctly and keep both digital and paper copies of their I-9 and W-4 forms. This will be immensely helpful if you are audited.

1. Spend time creating detailed job descriptions

Your job descriptions should give a very clear idea of what will be required in the role so that new employees know exactly what to expect. Beyond just the types of responsibilities, be sure to include information about what hours will be required, who the employee reports to, certifications that are required, any expected travel, and the physical requirements of the job, for example, heavy lifting. This will help candidates know what to expect and will allow them to step into the role without doing too little or stepping on anyone’s toes.

1. Consider hiring a consultant

As your company grows, ensuring you have all of your human resources needs covered can start to become more time consuming and overwhelming. There may be a point where it is a better use of your funds to hire someone to help you so that you can spend more time on other business needs rather than investing a lot of time into these tasks. While it is an extra cost, this can end up being a really great investment!

We hope these tips help your small business solve all of its human resources woes. Do you have your own HR management tips? Share them with us on Twitter, @KuvioCreative.

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