HR Rescue: Human Resource Solutions for Small Business

Need some tips for writing a great online job board advertisement? Before you begin writing your company’s recruitment advertisement, first consider how much money is available for recruitment and the time frame in which the position needs to be filled. Based on this information, you then can determine the most appropriate media and availability with regards to cost and deadlines. If you plan on placing more than one ad, or will have several openings, developing a brand and consistency in the ads will deliver a good impression to the candidates. In this episode HR expert Jenni Stone provides eight tips for online recruitment advertising. Thank you for listening to this podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your episdoe! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR professional. Our goal is to educate the small business owner and help them understand the importance and impact an HR professional can have on their company and one day hire a full time certified professional. In addition to working with the small to mid-size business owner we provide a full white label HR portal and HR hotline for payroll companies, PEOs and staffing companies and support their small business owner clients.

As an HR Department of One, our job is never just “HR.” We wear many hats, payroll, event planning, accounting, executive assistant, travel planner, safety, facilities, heck sometimes we even do maintenance! Not to mention the countless interruptions we get throughout the day. You know the knock on the door followed by “Got a minute?” turns into 30 minutes, and another task to add to your calendar. So, how do we transition from being busy, to being productive? Listen in as HR expert, Jenni Stone covers 5 Tips on how to stay productive in a disruptive environment. Thank you for listening to this podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your question our next episode! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR professional. Our goal is to educate the small business owner and help them understand the importance and impact an HR professional can have on their company and one day hire a full time certified professional. In addition to working with the small to mid-size business owner we provide a full white label HR portal and HR hotline for payroll companies, PEOs and staffing companies and support their small business owner clients.

Mental disorders are common, but widely misunderstood. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year. You may see behavior or performance signs that suggest an employee has a mental health problem. As an employer, you have a responsibility both to the individual and the organization to take action if you suspect that this is the case. You may be able to provide the employee with an opportunity to get the supports, professional help, and workplace accommodation they need so that they can continue working productively. In this episode, HR expert Jenni Stone reviews 5 important steps to take when addressing this concern. Thank you for listening to our podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your question our next episode! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and...

Employees who are dating or are involved in a romantic relationship present unique risks for employers and challenges for the supervisors who manage them. From claims of harassment and unfair treatment to inappropriate conduct and workplace touching, workplace romances can lead to risky and unprofessional behavior. It is essential for an employer to protect its own business interests by establishing expectations for employees and maintaining a professional workplace. Failure to do so may result in claims of discrimination, harassment and unfair treatment. In this episode, HR expert Jenni Stone, provides several tips on how to manage romantic relationships in the office place. Thank you for watching listening to this podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your question our next podcast! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR professional. Our goal is to educate the small business owner and help them understand the...

The employment at-will doctrine, accepted by nearly all 50 states, provides that either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason. Despite the flexibility afforded by employment at-will, agencies, judges and juries in federal and state courts all expect employers to behave rationally and with a good explanation for their actions. In this episode, HR expert Jenni Stone shares important steps for terminating an at will employee for misconduct. Thank you for listening to our podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your episode! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR professional. Our goal is to educate the small business owner and help them understand the importance and impact an HR professional can have on their company and one day hire a full time certified professional. <span style="font-family:...

When an employee's family member or close friend dies, employers often give them time off work to grieve. But what happens when the person who passes away is a colleague? When bereavement and grief happen to your coworkers, you can be profoundly affected, too–and you also want to know what to do. The employer and coworkers can offer support and assist employees to deal with personal tragedies in the workplace. In this episode HR expert Jenni Stone shares several steps employers can take to help employees through the grieving process. Thank you for listening to our podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might create a podcast answering your question! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR...

One of your employees has just come to you telling you that she is pregnant. You know this is good news. But at that moment, you can only think about one thing - what this means for the company. Both federal and state laws regulate how employers should treat pregnant women throughout pregnancy and following leaves of absence in connection with childbirth and infant bonding. In this episode HR expert Jenni Stone reviews what steps employers need to do in order to keep claims of pregnancy discrimination at bay. Thank you for listening to this podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your video! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Podcast: http://hrrescue.libsyn.com Website: http://HR-Shield.com You can now Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR professional. Our goal...

It’s a question more employers find themselves asking: “What should I do if one of my employees gets arrested?” Acting on instinct can lead employers in the wrong direction when it comes to arrested employees. Employers need to consult legal counsel and consider all available options before making any decision on the worker’s job status. Also, it’s important that employers be aware of their employees’ rights and act in accordance with those rights. Making the wrong decision may result in a costly lawsuit. In this week’s episode HR expert, Jenni Stone shares the criteria that should be considered before suspending or discharging an employee based upon an arrest. Thank you for listening to this podcast. We will continue to keep you updated on the changing landscape of Human Resources and address any topic area you wish to learn more about regarding HR and HR Compliance. Please leave a comment below as we value your feedback or if you have an HR question ask and we just might make your video! Follow HR Shield Online Here: YouTube: http://youtube.com/TheHRShield Instagram: http://instagram.com/HRShield Facebook: http://facebook.com/HRShield Twitter: http://twitter.com/HR_Shield Website: http://HR-Shield.com You can now Enable our Alexa Skill!!! About HR Shield Do you own a small business? Are you considering starting a business? Does hiring an HR professional not fit your budget and current cash flow? Whether you are a newly certified HR professional, business owner, office manager, student or a general curious person HR Shield are certified HR specialists that provide quick, accurate and simple answers to common HR and business questions. Our mission at HR Shield is to impact those small and midsize companies that don’t yet understand the value or can’t yet afford to hire a full-time certified HR professional. Our goal is to educate the small business owner and help...

Company culture is unique to every organization. Now more so than ever people employees are putting emphasis on an organizations culture and values when determining to work for a company over just compensation. Does the company care about the community and give back? Is it a team oriented environment where they are open to collaboration and able to express their opinions. In this episode we share another podcast with you from host Katie Krimitsos Creator of the Biz Women Rock podcast. Biz Women Rock is a community and education provider for ambitious women entrepreneurs who want to grow a purposeful, productive and profitable business! In this Podcast Katie interviews, Patrick Moraites, co-founder of HR Shield where they discusses "How to Build Award Winning Team Culture" we hope you all enjoy.

Charlie Brown said "What if today we were just grateful for everything?" On today's podcast we reflect on the significance of this holiday and how it is a reminder to make frequent acts of Thanksgiving, acts of gratitude. Each of our team members shared what they are thankful for, a unique and personal perspective on thankfulness. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at HR Shield.

In this episode HR expert and HR Rescue host Jenni Stone, MHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP and special guest Brian Chapman, CEO of MBI Worldwide, a national leader in background screening services, discuss the evolution of the employer prescreening process. Brian is an author, speaker and expert witness on issues pertaining to employee background screening, FCRA and compliance. Countless new social media platforms, the accessibility of information Google and the numerous state approvals of medicinal marijuana has employers rethinking what they should and shouldn't consider when prescreening candidates. Listen is as Jenni and Brain discuss todays current state of affairs.

Union members enjoy the extra layer of protection provided by the collective bargaining agreement. Yet, this layer is not impenetrable. Where a non-union member can often be fired for any reason or even no reason, if an employee is protected by a collective bargaining agreement, an employer must establish "just cause" for any discipline or termination actions. Most collective bargaining agreements include specific procedural guidelines for employers seeking to impose discipline against a union member. In this episode HR expert, Jenni Stone, shares guidelines for disciplining a union member.

In this episode HR expert and HR Rescue host Jenni Stone, MHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP and special guest Jennifer Currence, SPHR, SHRM-SCP discuss top tips for talent development as a manager. One of the most important decisions a company makes begins and ends with the individuals placed in the frontline in leadership positions. A mistake often seen, is many organizations expect people to automatically become good managers and leaders simply because they are in the job. They miss the important step of training and showing their managers what makes as good leader or even worse don't set clear expectations for the job. Listen in as Jenni and Jennifer discuss some very important steps in developing your personnel and future leaders of your organization.

Telecommuting programs have numerous advantages for both employees and employers. They combat absenteeism, boost productivity and morale and increase employee retention. In this episode HR expert, Jenni Stone shares 8 steps for managing remote employees.

Poor records management can cost an organization in two primary ways. Failure to keep required records can result in fines or other punishments from the government; and failure to retain records of an investigation, claim or complaint can doom a case. Accordingly, most companies have detailed document retention policies and schedules that should be followed carefully. Whenever in question, the best practice is to ask counsel before destroying any document, especially if it is regarding a contentious employment decision that may lead to litigation. In this episode HR expert, Jenni Stone, covers 7 very important steps to help minimize your risk and exposure for non-compliance.

If your organization is vulnerable to hurricanes, it is important you understand the risk, develop a preparedness and mitigation plan, and take action. Doing so will not only increase the safety of employees and customers, but it will help you remain in business after disasters, such as tropical storms and hurricanes, strike. Maintaining business continuity is important. When you are able to continue operations after a disaster, you also improve your community's ability to recover. In this episode, HR expert Jenni Stone covers several actionable tips your organization can implement immediately.

Do you have job descriptions for each role within your organization? Job descriptions can help lay the groundwork for effective compensation, performance management and recruitment programs. Job descriptions are the cornerstone for communicating a job to a prospective employee, provide the baseline for what is expected from an employee in their role, and play a critical role in an organization's ability to defend itself against discrimination claims. For this reason it is important that job descriptions are clear, concise and focused on the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform each job. In this segment, HR expert Jenni Stone shares some best practices in writing a job description.

The rules on what kinds of travel time are (and are not) compensable for non-exempt employees are complex. As opposed to exempt employees, who generally receive a salary intended to compensate them for all working time, including tie spent in business-related travel, non-exempt employees are often only paid for the particular hours that the law deems compensable. In this episode as HR expert Jenni Stone shares 5 basic rules to calculating employee pay for travel time.

The growth phase of a small business can be both exciting and scary. It's exciting because your business is growing. This is awesome! Except you're so busy you have to turn down new work and clients. You're not able to do it all by yourself or with the current team you have. Sure, you could take on more business if you had more help. It seems logical to grow your team so you can grow your business. You know deep down you need help but you start second guessing if it's really the right thing to do. Relax. Everyone goes through this when their business grows, so how do you overcome the fear of hiring? Listen in as HR expert Jenni Stone provides some tangible tips on how to hire.

When it comes to the workplace, the office environment is the ideal conduit for germs to spread, even when only a single person is sick. Consider the routine of the office activity, commonly touched surfaces like door knobs, microwaves, phones and the coffee pot. It may ne tempting to allow a sick employee to come to work in the name of productivity, an outbreak of influenza or other communicable disease can thwart the productivity of your entire workforce for days or even weeks; and that's a cost no business can afford.

You've just hired a new employee! Great! Do you know what forms you need to have them complete? Your first responsibility for paperwork and regulations for new employees comes immediately after hire. Before the employee starts work and receives his or her first paycheck, there are some forms you are required to have the employee complete. These forms must be completed by very employee, according to both federal and state laws. Listen in as HR expert Jenni Stone reviews what employee forms must be completed to keep compliant.

When making personnel decisions - including hiring, retention, promotion and reassignment - employers sometimes want to consider the backgrounds of applicants and employees. If you get background information (for example, a credit or criminal background report) from a company in the business of compiling background information, there are additional procedures the FCRA requires beforehand. In this segment HR expert Jenni Stone shares best practices for conduction background checks.

When news of an active shooter breaks, most individuals are saddened and horrified by the incident, but also grateful they were not affected. Many people commonly believe "it won't happen here" or "it won't happen to me." The fact is, no one knows when and where an active shooter event will occur. No employer should think its workplace is immune. Active shooter situations are unpredictable, occur quickly and result in panic and chaos. Therefore, it is important for employees to know ahead of time what to do in order to keep themselves and others safe. In this segment our HR expert Jenni Stone reviews key steps an employers can take to prepare its workplace and its workforce in the event of an active shooter situation.

Employees with body odor can cause a disruption in the workplace; other employees may feel uncomfortable and, in extreme cases, be unable to perform their jobs. Employees may also begin to talk about the problem in the workplace, which disrupts work even more. So what should you do? In this episode HR Jenni Stone shares best practices, and do's and don'ts when it comes to addressing personal hygiene and body odor in the workplace.

Payroll mistakes can occur in any type of business, large or small, and the results may be costly and sometimes against the law, such as in the case of IRS violations. In this segment our HR expert Jenni Stone shares some of the most common payroll mistakes to avoid.

Paid time off policies (PTO), managing absenteeism and administering holidays are common issues for employers. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides 5 answers to common questions about PTO and holidays to help your small business navigate these challenges and create a competitive PTO plan.

Sometimes business owners don't think they need HR support. As a small business owner, it's normal, and in fact, necessary to wear many different hats when you're first start out. But if you want a successful and profitable business in the long run, there comes a time when you need to have HR support. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides 5 compelling reasons why your organization should seek professional HR support!

Having a clear understanding to the classification of your employees is extremely important in every business. Knowing the difference between exempt and nonexempt can impact how the employee is compensated for their time as well as how you are able to discipline that employee. If you have an exempt/salaried employee who repeatedly comes in late, leaves early and works half days, can you dock their pay? Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone weighs in on this issue.

When it comes to hiring employees, cultural fit has risen in importance, ranking among the top factors for whether to hire a job candidate. Unfortunately, for small business owners, trying to determine whether a candidate is a "good fit" can lead to discrimination pitfalls, especially when you use small talk as a gauge. Sometimes small talk can lead to inadvertently asking illegal job interview questions, or being provided with information from job candidates that could be used to discriminate against them. In this episode our HR expert Jenni Stone shares good rules of thumb to avoid the appearance of discrimination.

As a small business unemployment tax rate largely depends on the number of past unemployment claims against your business. May business owners aren't sure how to manage this cost. While you can't control whether an employee decides to file a claim, you can take steps to reduce the risk of unqualified claims being levied against your organization. Our HR expert Jenni Stone provides some way to proactively protect your unemployment insurance rate.

If you're a small business owner, recent high-profile sexual harassment allegations may have you a little worried. Some of the behavior you've heard about might remind you of someone you know, or someone who works for you. Or you may just fell a general sense of uncertainty. Where is the line between acceptable behavior and harassment and how do you, the employer, draw it? Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides 5 Tips on how to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

Most often small businesses do not have a human resource department and the employer ends up getting to know your employees on a much more personal level. Sometimes the line between the business world and the personal one blurs. An employee's unresolved problems can affect productivity and workplace morale. Even when employees have serious personal issues to deal with at home, they must still meet performance expectations and act professionally. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides several valuable tips how to address the employee while staying in compliance.

Does your company have a safety program? Do you discipline employees for not following the rules of your safety program? Do you conduct periodic safety audits to ensure employees are following your safety program and being safe? Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone shares 4 tips to help you prepare, stay diligent and protect your business before tragedy strikes!

Labor law posters are the mandated state and federal employment law notices that employers with at least one employee or more are required to conspicuously post in an area frequented by all employees. Failure to display the correct state and federal employment law notices can result in penalties, fines and lawsuits.

As a small business owner you wear many hats and often play the role of the HR department. Employee absenteeism can be difficult to address once it's become a habit or accepted behavior by your team. AS much as you'd like to, you can't force employees to show up to work on time. In this episode our HR expert Jenni Stone shares an easy five step-process to get a handle on employee absenteeism.

Employers should be aware there are quite a few illegal job application questions that could lead to legal troubles and lawsuits. Employment applications are designed to elicit information relevant to the job for which the applicant applied. Questions that go beyond the applicants qualifications, even if they appear neutral on their face, can be discriminatory if they require disclosure of information that may be found to adversely impact a particular group of applicants. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides 7 questions every small business should avoid on their applications.

Terminating an employee for poor performance...seems easy right? On the surface, terminating an employee for poor performance seems simple. It's nothing personal. The employee just isn't getting it done and would be better off in another job. But even when a termination is 100% justifiable, managers must be extremely careful how they conduct themselves. Terminations, no matter how clear cut, can have legal ramifications. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone shares 5 tips on how to handle a termination.

Many employers want to know how they can reduce workers comp risk in their workplace. Incurring workers comp claims can drive the cost of your insurance up which will impact your margins and ultimately the cost of doing business. Our HR expert Jenni Stone explains how no matter your industry, the following tips can help keep you and your employees healthy, productive and safe.

So what do you do when you suspect one of your employees is under the influence? Reporting to work drunk, or worse yet, drinking while at work? These situations are never easy and the solution may vary case to case. Tune in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides several tips on how you can take action to address this important issue.

Human Resources can be complicated enough and it especially becomes more complicated as your small business grows into multiple states or takes on employees outside of the corporate location. When an employer is in one state and the remote worker is in another, compliance with various state employment and tax laws can be complicated. In such cases, employers should consult with legal counsel and a tax advisor to determine which laws apply to the remote worker. Generally, where federal, state and local laws conflict, the law that is more generous to the employee applies. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone weighs in on this scenario.

In any business it can be common to promote from within the organization. Taking on a management role can be demanding. It can be even more challenging when a promoted employee now supervises former co-workers. These managers need to change peer relationships into manager-employee relationships. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides several tips to help new managers with this type of transition.

Small business owners looking to save as much money as possible sometimes try to get around legal and financial obligations to workers who should be classified as employees by classifying them as independent contractors, but even an honest mistake can have serious consequences for employers. Employment status affects employment benefits, tax implications, liability and other issues. Any employer looking to work with independent contractors should know some of the key differences between the two classifications before deciding which type of worker to hire. Listen in as our HR expert Jenni Stone provides a checklist so you can determine if you are classifying your employees appropriately.