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The HR Guy Answers Questions on Facebook Live!
31 October 2022
H.R. Guy Ian Schotanus Gives a Preview for the Upcoming SBE Odyssey Conference in February 2023
The Big Picture Consulting's famous H.R. Guy was featured in a Facebook Live session on October 26, where he answered questions about the bare minimum HR info that a contractor needs and some tips on how to retain your top employees.
Use this link to access a replay of this Facebook Live session: https://www.facebook.com/SBEOdyssey/videos/506255494443073
In this discussion, Ian outlined the four bare minimum requirements for any contracting company when it comes to HR:
- Quality Employee Handbook, which acts as the foundation of the relationship between employer and employee
- Usable and readable Safety Program, including training and measures for accountability
- Accountability, and the repercussions when employees don't hold to their end of the bargain
- Compliant Payroll, where many contractors are unintentionally shorting their employees in overtime wages.
Ian also previewed the topic he'll be speaking on in the 2023 SBE Odyssey Conference
in Scottsdale, AZ in February: enhancing the employee experience beyond the paycheck. A couple key highlights:
- To keep good employees, you need to focus on intentional communication and helping your employees feel appreciated from the moment they start working with you.
- Respect your employees as people, give them work/life balance, and let them see that you have their back. When a customer makes unreasonable demands that will require one of your techs to work well beyond their scheduled time, tell the customer clearly that you value your employees and simply can't accommodate. This sort of support will help make you the company employees want to stick with.
- Even if you're short-staffed, It's usually better to let go of a toxic employee right away, before they can impact the rest of your employees. If employees aren't willing to work with you on the company vision, you need to let them go.
Reasonable Accommodations in the workplace are no joke - you can get into serious legal trouble if you don't comply with the ADA. Yet here's a case study on a company who terminated someone for an issue directly related to their disability and was not held legally liable. Check out the details of how this might apply to your business.
Home services companies might be tempted to classify workers as independent contractors, but we STRONGLY advise you to hire them as W-2 workers instead. And it's not just because the government might fine you (big time!). Read more for tips on why it'll be in your company's best interest.
Listen to The H.R. Guy explaining the nuances of HR for the Trades in 2025, with tips on common HR pitfalls and how to avoid them, the value of Stay Interviews, key mistakes with performance pay, and the ultimate goal of "Representing the Brand."
You thought you were rid of that toxic employee, but now he's causing you even more problems - posting negative Google reviews and refusing to return company property. Why is this happening?
As a residential service provider, you might not think you're in the construction industry, but the Department of Labor has its own definition... and regulations. If you're in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, garage doors, or roofing, here are some things you need to know.
Perspective employers can ask anything they want about an applicant, but you as a current/ex-employer are legally restricted on what you are allowed to share. Check out this post for details... and for the one exception to the rule.
Some job candidates spend more effort prepping to "ace" an interview than they will spend on doing the job! Use these tips to figure out which candidate will be the best employee, and to avoid legal hot water.
If your business struggles with employee tardies and unexplained absences, an information Attendance Point System might be a good solution. Use these tips to create a system that's consistent and effective.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives have been all the rage across the government and the business world. President Trump has signaled a step back from this. Here's why the H.R. Guy doesn't think this is as dramatic a backswing as the media wants you to believe.
Most businesses that use point systems for attendance do it wrong, which can cause employee unrest or even legal issues. We break down what these systems are, how they can lead to trouble, and how to set them up correctly.