How To Know When To Hire Your First HR Person

Determining when to hire your first HR professional is a critical decision for any growing business: get it worng and you risk wasting valuable time and money. But get it right and you could remove some of the barriers limiting your growth.

Assessing your HR readiness involves evaluating several key factors to ensure you're making the right move at the right time.

Workforce Size and Complexity: As your team grows, so does the complexity of managing HR functions. If you’re handling more than 10-15 employees, it might be time to consider dedicated HR support. This doesn;t have to mean a full or even part-time team member. You could look at fractional support, outsourced support or something in between. This ensures that your people and culture are managed and developed effectively, from recruitment to performance management.

Current HR Challenges: Are you facing frequent employee issues, high turnover rates, or compliance concerns? These challenges indicate the need for professional HR management. An HR professional can help address these problems, creating a more stable and productive work environment.

Growth Projections: If you’re planning significant growth, such as opening new locations or expanding your product line, proactive HR planning is essential. An HR professional can develop strategies to support your expansion, ensuring you have the right talent in place to meet your business goals.

Leadership Bandwidth: Business leaders often juggle multiple roles, including HR. If HR tasks are taking up too much of your time and detracting from your strategic responsibilities, it’s a clear sign that you need HR support. Freeing up your time allows you to focus on driving the business forward.

At Human, we understand each company has unique needs. That’s why we offer a range of flexible HR solutions to help you assess and meet your HR requirements effectively.

HR Search & Selection: Our 30 stage search and selection process delivers experienced people tailored to your business needs. We can help provide experienced professionals for permanent, or project-based roles, ensuring a perfect fit for your team. We’ve been offering a streamlined recruitment process, expert vetting, and customised solutions to meet your specific hiring requirements since 2013.

Fractional HR Support: Our fractional HR service provides you with part-time HR professionals who bring extensive experience and expertise. This is an ideal solution for businesses that need consistent HR support but aren’t ready for a full-time hire. It offers a cost-effective way to integrate high-level HR functions into your operations.

Ad Hoc HR Support: For those who need HR assistance on a project-by-project basis, our ad hoc HR support service is perfect. Whether you require help with specific initiatives, such as developing an employee handbook or conducting a compliance audit, our HR experts are available to provide tailored solutions.

Assessing your HR readiness is the first step towards effective HR management and business growth. By evaluating your current challenges and future needs, you can make informed decisions about hiring your first HR professional or exploring fractional and ad hoc support options.

Still not sure if the timing is right? Take our scorecard and find out or book a discovery call and we'll help you uncover your best next step.