What Keeps Small Business Owners Up at Night?
Small business owners often have a myriad of concerns that can keep them up at night. Some common worries include several HR topics including:
| HR Topic | Tips for Helping You Sleep |
| Hiring and Recruitment: Finding and hiring the right talent is crucial for small businesses to grow. This includes writing job descriptions, posting job ads, conducting interviews, and negotiating job offers. | Maintain updated job descriptions for all positions and use them in job postings, interviews, and performance management. |
| Employee Onboarding: Effective onboarding processes help new hires integrate into the company culture, understand their roles, and quickly become productive members of your team. | Create an onboarding program that includes things such as a day 1 welcome, review of company policies and procedures, and regular check-ins during first 90 days. |
| Compliance with Employment Laws: Small business owners must navigate a complex web of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations governing areas such as minimum wage, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, and worker safety. | Companies with as few as 1 employee must comply with employment laws. Be aware of, and stay up-to-date on, the employment laws that apply to your size company, industry, and location. |
| Employee Handbook and Policies: Developing and maintaining an employee handbook that outlines company policies, procedures, and expectations is essential for promoting consistency and minimizing legal risks. | Don’t borrow a friend’s handbook from their business – it may not apply to your organization. Work with a qualified professional to develop an employee handbook that complies with the federal, state, and local laws that apply to your company. |
| Performance Management: Implementing performance evaluation systems and providing regular feedback helps employees understand their strengths and areas for improvement, ultimately contributing to the company’s success. | Provide regular feedback to employees both formally, through written performance reviews, and informally, through regular conversations. |
| Employee Benefits and Compensation: Offering competitive salaries and benefits packages, such as healthcare, retirement plans, paid time off, and flexible work arrangements, helps attract and retain top talent. | Benefits are part of an employee’s total compensation. Regardless of the size of your organization, employees want a good benefits package that will encourage them to stay and be productive employees. |
| Training and Development: Providing opportunities for employees to enhance their skills and knowledge through training and development programs not only improves individual performance but also contributes to overall business success. | Job-related and other training programs are also important to attract and retain top talent. Also be aware of any required training related to safety and compliance (such as sexual harassment training). |
| Employee Relations and Conflict Resolution: Addressing employee concerns, resolving conflicts, and fostering a positive work culture are essential for maintaining morale and productivity. | This can be one of the most challenging areas of HR in any size organization. Promptly addressing employee concerns and conflicts is essential to not allow them to grow and fester. |
| Workplace Health and Safety: Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment is critical for protecting employees from accidents and injuries and complying with occupational health and safety regulations. | Be aware of all safety requirements for your industry and work environment and provide all of the necessary PPE and training. |
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace fosters innovation, creativity, and a sense of belonging among employees. | Implementing DEI programs, big or small, can contribute to an inclusive culture to help attract and retain top talent. |
By prioritizing these HR topics, small business owners can effectively manage their workforce, mitigate risks, and create a positive and productive work environment. Blueprint HRM can help you design and manage your HR function to ensure compliance with relevant laws and foster a culture that attracts and retains top talent to help your organization grow.