For a lot of start-ups, everything is new and there is a lot of work to do. However, HR doesn’t need to be one of them. Check out these tips for better HR for start-ups.
1.
So handbooks are dated and tedious, but startups
are modern and fun, right?! Wrong! Looking at things from the angle of Human
Resources, handbooks are an absolute necessity, and that's regardless of the
size of the company. A company can put all their cards on the table in a
handbook, what they expect from their employees, and what they are happy to
provide in return. Both employees an employers are protected in this way, as
well as providing a go-to base for any situation that may occur. As the company
changes and grows, so can the handbook.
2.
It's all about culture! This plays a
crucial role in startups, and is actually the probable underlying reason as to
why I have no plans to leave the startup world. Being the HR Manager, as well
as Office Manager, in my eyes it seems that I often play the role of Culture
Minister, or at least Minister of the People. In other words, it's down to me
to maintain a fun environment that workers want to stay in. Even though I do
work in HR, people should never doubt that they can come and chat to me about
anything and everything - we call this policy, open door. Ensuring that people
always feel comfortable in giving suggestions or expressing ideas for
improvement.
3.
Regardless of company size, hiring the
right people is what it is all about. At startup, you just have a handful of
employees, making the right hires is vital. You need to know where your company
is heading, and hire people who are a good fit in terms of culture, experience
and attitude. If there is any time to use the best talent management software and
methods, it's now. Granted the likes of Taleo is the best-known option here,
but when it comes to price and size, they may not be your best choice. Since
it's simple to use, collaborative and free, it ranks as my favorite!
4.
Once the hires roll in, so does the
paperwork! At this point you need to get some personal files up and running.
Many companies today are working towards a reduction in paper use, meaning they
are doing all they can to go paperless, I think this should also be a goal for
HR. Use a secure online place, such as DropBox,
coupled with password protection and encryption, and get everything online.
When it comes to questions about where you put things and how long you keep
things, just sign up to SHRM, set aside time to read and get yourself
organized!
5.
Communication matters in a start up and
can greatly smooth over the HR process. Options such as Neocase are created to help improve
the HR process and ensure that things run well. If you are looking to push your
start up to the next level, this could be a good consideration.