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As a business owner, you get used to making tough decisions every day. One critical question is whether you should handle every human resource function internally or if it’s in your business’ best interest to consider outsourcing. 

To insource or to outsource may not be as difficult of a question as you may think. Here are four reasons why it may make sense for your business to consider human resource outsourcing.

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Small business owners weigh many factors when deciding whether to invest in a group health insurance plan, but oftentimes the decision comes down to dollars and cents. The Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2016 Employer Health Benefits Survey notes that the high costs of insurance premiums are the primary reason why firms won’t offer health benefits. Even for business owners who do offer plans, rising insurance premiums can create a lot of stress and confusion, especially if the owner doesn’t know how these premiums are calculated and how they can manage them.

Employers can have many questions for group health providers, and that includes exactly how much they can expect to spend. Here’s a rundown on what the insurance industry uses to calculate your group health insurance coverage premium, as well as some strategies that can lead to lower costs.

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It’s always a good idea to get more information. For a small business owner, that extra information can be the difference between finding the right group health coverage for your business.

Even if you have a good grasp on the basics of group health insurance, it doesn’t hurt to ask a provider a few important questions before you purchase a plan for your business. Here are some key things that you should ask a provider about group health insurance coverage.

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Managing health insurance for a business can get complex in a hurry, especially if you’ve never dealt with group plans before. When it comes to offering healthcare coverage, you’ll quickly find that not all health insurance plans work the same way. 

Instead of getting overwhelmed, it’s a good idea to step back, take a breath, and start with the basics. Let’s go over what you should know about group health insurance before you start offering plans  to your employees.

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Workplace safety oversights can be expensive mistakes for employers. When an injury occurs and a claim is made, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will come down hard on an offending business if they determine it is at fault. Depending on the situation, employers may also find themselves dealing with a VSSR, another violation that can lead to additional penalties.

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Employee retention is a significant area of focus for most  business owners. According to talent management and HR site ERE Media, “78 percent of business leaders rank employee retention as important or urgent,” showing that the average owner wants to avoid losing good talent. 

There are many reasons why an unexpected departure can prove problematic for employers. It can disrupt workflow. It can have a negative impact on chemistry. Also, it can cost up to 50 percent of an entry-level employee’s annual salary to find someone to replace your outgoing employee. That’s a pricey goodbye.

Retention is a big issue that many employers want to address before their company turns into a revolving door for talent. Fortunately, Professional Employer Organizations can help your business improve employee retention. Here’s how.

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There are several employee work classifications covering everyone from full-time workers to special classes such as interns. Each person needs to be sorted into their appropriate groups to help determine their benefit eligibility.

However, there are occasions where employees can be incorrectly classified. The government takes this issue very seriously. The Society for Human Resource Management writes that proper employee classification “make[s] sure that all legal requirements are maintained so that there is no discrimination in terms of benefit plan eligibility and payment of compensation in accordance with federal and state laws.” It’s important to know how misclassification works and just how much it can hurt your business.

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If you think it’s hard to find good talent these days, you’re not alone. The Society for Human Resource Management conducted a survey of more than 3,300 HR professionals and found that “more than two-thirds of surveyed organizations hiring full-time staff indicate[d] they are having a difficult time recruiting for job openings.”

Thanks to a combination of factors, hiring employees that truly fit your requirements can be a tricky process. SHRM’s Jennifer Schramm cites “a low number of applicants, lack of needed work experience among those that do apply, competition from other employers, and a lack of technical skills among job applicants” as obstacles that employers face these days.

When it comes to finding the right applicant for the job, it’s important to know where to look. Here's where you should consider looking to find the quality talent your business needs to grow.

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Paper has played a huge role for businesses. Legal documents and contracts can be found in offices around the country. Business cards and print ads helped to seal deals for decades. Even money is printed on paper. Thanks to technology, however, the times have been a changin’.

In this digital age, businesses can cut down on paper usage in favor of online documents and processes. It’s become so popular that, according to a study on document-creation site Nitro, 49 percent of CEOs name sustainability as a top three initiative for their organization. A paperless workplace is a great way to achieve that goal.

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Employees handbooks are more than just a stack of papers you hand to new hires. An employee handbook can be key part of informing your workers about several items, including:

• Company philosophy
• Conditions of employment
• Company policies and procedures
• Compensation and benefits

Handbooks are great at introducing a new hire to your business, but it’s not the only role it plays. A handbook also serves as an important compliance document that shares the rights and obligations for both employees and their employers. Including certain criteria about these legal obligations and having your employees sign off that they received a copy of the handbook, can help protect your business in case there’s ever a labor dispute.

Of course, things change. Your company can grow, opening you up to new legal requirements. Legislative changes can affect several of your policies. Over time, you’ll need to update your handbook to address these changes if you want to avoid any potential issues. 

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