Are you a business owner who operates a home office? When your business grows to a certain size, you may consider hiring human resources staff, otherwise known as HR. HR for home office staff can play a crucial role in managing and supporting employees within a your organization. Let’s explore the roles and responsibilities of HR staff and what an HR department can do for a home business.

Human Resources Roles + Responsibilities

What does HR staff do? Human resources departments serve several different but parallel functions related to employee recruitment and retainment. They also are key for ensuring all compliance and legal requirements are properly met. While the roles of a HR department will vary depending on the size and needs of the organization, general HR roles and responsibilities include:

• Recruitment and hiring: HR departments are responsible for finding, hiring, and onboarding new employees.
• Employee relations and support: HR serves as a point of contact for addressing workplace conflicts, grievances, and employee concerns. They provide support to individual employees and resolve disputes among workers.
• Performance management and development: HR departments support employee growth and development by regularly reviewing performance, providing feedback, and offering access to training and development programs.
• Compliance and legal requirements: HR departments must ensure that employees are aware of and comply with relevant labor laws and employment standards, as well as keep track of employee records related to attendance, vacations, and medical leave.
• Compensation and benefits management: HR departments help manage and oversee compensation and benefits provided to employees, working with managers to set salaries and administer benefits.
• Training and development: HR departments are responsible for training employees and supporting their professional development.
• Handling performance reviews: HR departments often handle performance reviews, ensuring that employees receive regular feedback on their performance.
• Creating an inclusive company culture: HR departments work to foster a positive work environment and enforce standards for employee behavior.
• Writing and maintaining employee handbooks: HR departments are responsible for creating and updating employee handbooks, outlining company policies and procedures.
• Leveraging technology for HR management: HR departments often implement software applications for tasks such as payroll management, benefits administration, and performance tracking, allowing them to focus on more strategic duties, like organizational development and performance management.

Human Resources departments play a crucial role in supporting employees and creating a positive work environment for all. They are responsible for a wide range of tasks, from recruitment and hiring to performance management and legal compliance, ensuring that employees receive the support they need to thrive within the organization.

What are the different types of HR staff?

With HR for home business, you may simply need a one-person HR department. However as your business grows, it may be beneficial to hire multiple HR staff members, each with specific functions. Some common types of HR staff roles include:

• HR Director: The HR director is the highest-level HR employee who oversees the entire HR department and its functions. Their specific role and job duties depend on the company itself.
• Human Resources Generalist: HR generalists are responsible for overseeing organizational development, managing regular operations of the HR department concerning procedures, policies, and programs.
• HR Manager: HR managers oversee the HR department and its functions, including hiring, training, and supporting new employees. They also ensure compliance with labor laws and employment standards.
• Human Resources Assistant: This role involves assisting HR managers and directors with various administrative tasks, such as documenting grievances, compensation, absences, terminations, performance reviews, and benefits information.
• Employment Specialist: Employment specialists focus on recruiting, screening, and onboarding new employees, as well as managing employee relations and workplace conflicts.
• Recruiter: Recruiters are responsible for finding, hiring, and onboarding new employees, as well as managing employee relations and workplace conflicts.
• HR Analyst: HR analysts focus on analyzing data related to employee performance, turnover, and other HR-related metrics to help inform decision-making and improve HR processes.
• HR Coordinator or Staff Coordinator: HR coordinators or staff coordinators assist with various administrative tasks, such as documenting grievances, compensation, absences, terminations, performance reviews, and benefits information.
• Employee Relations Manager: Employee relations managers focus on managing employee relations and workplace conflicts, as well as ensuring compliance with labor laws and employment standards.
• Compensation and Benefits Manager: Compensation and benefits managers are responsible for managing and overseeing compensation and benefits provided to employees, working with managers to set salaries and administer benefits.

These Human Resources roles may vary depending on the size and complexity of the organization. With HR for home business staff, some of these roles may be combined or have overlapping responsibilities. Regardless of the specific roles within an HR department, the overall goal is to support employees and create a positive work culture.

How to Know When Your Business Needs an HR Department

As a small business owner, you may start out being your own HR department. But as the size and needs of your business grow and change, you’ll need to know when your business needs an HR department. With HR for home business, determining when your business needs an HR department depends on several factors. Consider the size of your business, the complexity of your workforce, and the specific needs of your employees.

Here are some indicators to help you decide if you need HR for home business:

• Number of employees: Most experts recommend bringing on a full-time HR staff member when there are at least 10 employees within the company. However, this number can vary depending on the specific needs of your business.
• Workload and time management: If you find yourself struggling to manage tasks such as payroll, benefits management, hiring, and training, it might be time to consider delegating these tasks to an HR professional.
• Compliance and legal requirements: Ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal employment laws can be time-consuming and complex. An HR staff member can help manage this aspect of your business.
• Employee development and engagement: If your business requires a focus on employee training, professional development, and creating an inclusive company culture, an HR staff member can help support these initiatives.
• Budget and resources: Hiring a full-time HR staff member may not always be feasible for small businesses. In this case, you might consider first using HR software to manage specific tasks.

In summary, whether your business needs an HR department depends on your specific situation and the needs of your business. If you find that managing HR-related tasks is becoming too time-consuming or complex, it might be time to consider hiring an HR professional or HR team.

Hire HR for Home Business

Now that you know more about what an HR team can do for your business, are you ready to hire HR for your home business? At Home + Work staffing we help busy professionals and families to hire the expert support they and their businesses need to thrive. Reach out to our team to get started with the HR for home business hiring process.