Thinking Like an HR Consultant

Internal and external HR consultants are critical components of the success and evolution of any organization.

But we have to focus on how we are supporting organizational priorities. How are we adding value to the organization?  What is the return on investment for the HR function? Are we measuring? Are we seeking feedback? How do we get better? How does the department get better?

Why Businesses Should Use HR Consultants

Many businesses handle HR internally, with 54% of small businesses dealing with employment processes themselves. If you’re doing it alone, you’re likely wasting time that could go toward core business activities that help your company grow.

Determine a blend that works for your organization, implementing both an internal and external approach to HR.

Streamline Recruitment

The average time to fill a position is 36 days, with screening taking an average of seven days, interviews taking eight days, and making a hiring decision taking an average of five days, according to SHRM.

HR consultants can help you refine your recruitment process to make it more efficient. They can help you attract more candidates, handle applicant tracking, improve interviewing, and conduct other recruitment activities. They can also help you explore various recruitment methods, such as using internships. According to ZenBusiness, hiring interns gives you a chance to train potential full-time employees while testing them out to see if they’re a good fit for the company. 

Again, metrics and ROI will play a crucial role in pinpointing issues and then ultimately gauging the success of any program or intervention.

Amplify Employee Performance

HR consultants can evaluate your overall employee management practices to identify issues and suggest improvements. Many options can improve productivity and employee performance. Examples include:

• Strategy mapping.
• Time tracking and attendance.
• Performance reviews.
• Employee development.
• Mentoring and coaching.

Focus on Retention

Strong employee retention saves you money and keeps productivity high.

Calculating your retention rate gives you a baseline so you can determine if employee turnover is an issue. An HR consultant can help you evaluate your rate and give you strategies for improving it. Stay interviews, workplace assessments, and collaboration are a few examples of methods to gather information to boost retention.

Meet Compliance

Employment law includes many regulations that you must follow to stay compliant. For example, employers are required to display certain workplace posters regarding specific regulations, such as the minimum wage and the Family and Medical Leave Act. Specific requirements can vary based on the size, industry, and other factors of your business. You also face compliance rules regarding payroll.

Rely on your internal or external HR consultants to implement compliance processes and train current HR staff to understand and navigate the evolving areas of HR laws and regulations.

Improve Training

Training ensures your employees have the skills and knowledge to perform well. Your internal training and development experts or external HR training and development advisors can provide tailored training programs that fit your company’s needs.

Consider the advantages of leveraging internal versus external experts: Outsourcing your training planning can save significant time and ensure the training is valuable and focuses on the right topics. The training can cover workplace basics that everyone needs to know, such as preventing workplace violence and harassment, or specific topics, such as managerial training. 

Help with Benefits

Creating a competitive benefits package is crucial for attracting and keeping talent.

Designing your benefits program can be difficult, especially if you have a tight budget. It can be tough to know which benefits offer the most value and appeal to employees. An HR consultant can help you maximize your benefits budget and choose the perks that your employees really want.

Get a Fresh Perspective

No HR professional can know all the ins and outs of every functional area at an expert level. Often, it’s difficult to stay current on HR trends when you’re dealing with other aspects of running your business. Using a professional HR service gives you instant access to expertise, which can give you a different perspective and fresh ideas.

The questions every organization should consider related to program and process. How is the current program and process working? Is it actually working? Is there a return that positively impacts the business? Aligning your HR function with the HR functional area definitions and the behavioral competency proficiencies in the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK) and implementing a consulting approach can be effective tactics for any HR department. Explore your options to make the best decision to support the needs, goals, and strategies of HR at your organization.

Matthew W. Burr, SHRM-SCP, is an owner of Burr Consulting LLC in Elmira, N.Y., and McKinney, Texas; a co-owner of Labor Love LLC; an HR consultant; an adjunct professor; and an on-call mediator and fact finder for the New York State Public Employment Relations Board.