10 Questions to Start your HR Department

Happy employees are the secret  to high productivity, low turnover, and consistent customer service—in other words, they’re at the foundation of a successful business. And behind a satisfied staff is an HR team that knows how to keep employees engaged, effective, and committed to giving their best. 

Whether you’re just now building a human resources team or seeking improvement to an existing one, here are 10 questions to consider: 

1. Does your company have detailed job descriptions?

For small business , flexibility is essential, every role should have a clear job description, including the knowledge, skills, and experience required for success in each position. Level of responsibility, reporting structure. It’s good practice to build a business case for each new employee. 

2.     What is your orientation process?

Don’t waste a day. Make sure the introduction to their employment sets the right tone and level of expectation for what lies ahead. Provide orientation and training that prepares them to perform at their best.

3.    How does your business communicate reporting structure?

Employees should know  where they fit in the bigger picture. An organizational chart is an ideal  visual tool for communicating how company functions flow. A chart not only provides an at-a-glance view of who does what and reports to whom, it also illustrates potential promotional paths. 

4.    Does your company provide each employee training plan?

No matter how satisfied employees are today, presenting opportunities for tomorrow is an important motivator for top performance and loyalty. Do your best to offer education, certification, and skill development where you can. Investing in your employees will return long-term benefits and increase retention rate. 

5.    Are your considering a manpower provider ?

Some challenges of starting companies is the need for immediate manpower.  In this case, one of the more reliable source of people is through a contractor.  Make sure that you do due diligence in looking for a credible service provider.  Look at their track record and check their customer service.  Finally, ensure that everything is covered by a contract for at least one year

6.    Is there a performance appraisal system in place?

All employees deserve to know how well they’re meeting company expectations. Regular reviews provide a defined forum for that feedback, as well as a chance to share direction and opportunities for growth. Create a review calendar to ensure no employee is overlooked or delayed in this process.

7.      How is employee satisfaction measured within your company?

Staff satisfaction should be just as important as keeping your customers happy because it’s all related. Having an online survey tool can help you bubble issues to the surface while they’re still manageable. Exit interviews should also be viewed as a valuable way to gather information for future improvements. 

8.    Do you know what motivates your employees?

One sure-fire way to find out is ask them. The experience of taking part in an employee survey can often in itself be therapeutic and enlightening. But remember that your response and ultimate action will determine how useful the process really is.

9.    Do you effectively manage and capture employee attendance?

Our labor laws require accurate records of employee hours, but your business needs to define and justify those that are ‘client-billable.’ Having visibility to how and where employee time is being spent provides data for necessary adjustments. But time monitoring can be complicated, especially when you have team members in the field.  The best recommendation is  incorporating an automated system to accurately collect and record information. 

10.   How do you store employee information?

Be highly sensitive about the security of personal information being stored and shared electronically.  Setting up  201 File for employee records is highly recommended to ensure that you are on top of the essentials in your decision making.

Did any of the  questions ring a bell?  Then it may be a great time to explore ways that HR could become part  your business success.