Building An HR Department With The Right Recruitment And Development Tools

Building An HR Department With The Right Recruitment And Development Tools

By: Kendall Rawls | 7,238 Reads | 13 Shares

Building An HR Department With The Right Recruitment And Development Tools

%3Cp%3EMulti-unit+franchisees+are+unique+business+owners.+Not+only+do+you+own+the+business%2C+but+you+also+work+the+business%2C+recruit+talent%2C+run+the+operations%2C+oversee+the+marketing%2C+and+are+ultimately+the+responsible+party+for+human+resources.+Human+resources+is+a+complex+environment+and+we+often+see+the+owner+or+a+staff+person+taking+on+responsibility+for+these+details+on+a+part-time+bases+with+a+slew+of+other+responsibilities.+As+such%2C+it+is+easy+to+%26ldquo%3Bstep+into%26rdquo%3B+something+that+could+have+been+prevented.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWith+this+in+mind%2C+we+asked+Renay+Winston%2C+president+of+People+Management+Solutions%2C+an+HR+consulting+firm+to+provide+his+perspective.+Winston+shares+an+analogy+of+business+owners+sometimes+acting+like+Dr.+Seuss%26rsquo%3B+Cat+in+the+Hat.+The+cat+is+a+keen+problem+solver.+He+takes+on+all+the+challenges+of+getting+things+done+and+as+he+takes+off+each+hat%2C+he+reveals+a+team+of+smaller+cat+allies+who+work+together%2C+collaboratively+to+solve+problems.+When+you+first+start%2C+you+work+on+all+the+challenges+to+run+the+business+but+as+things+become+more+complex%2C+you+realize+that+you+need+a+good+team+of+allies+to+help+make+things+better.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWinston+believes+that+a+human+resources+professional+is+one+of+those+allies+who+can+help+you+improve+your+business%2C+and+that+there+really+is+no+question+whether+you%26rsquo%3Bll+need+someone+with+this+expertise+at+some+point+in+your+growth.+He+reports+that+at+last+count+there+were+more+than+180+employment+laws+that+govern+the+workplace.+As+such+he+has+seen+that+it+is+hard+for+business+owners%2C+especially+franchise+owners+to+reasonably+be+expected+to+know%2C+let+alone+master+all+of+them.+Therefore%2C+he+says+it+is+critical+to+know+when+to+bring+in+someone+who+does+know.+As+your+business+grows%2C+the+legal+requirements+change+significantly+and+therefore+you+need+to+ensure+you+have+the+proper+person+or+team+in+place+to+ensure+you+do+not+%26ldquo%3Bstep+into%26rdquo%3B+a+situation+wrought+with+risk.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3ELike+Winston%2C+The+Rawls+Group+has+seen+many+business+owners+try+to+handle+everything+on+their+own+until+it%26rsquo%3Bs+no+longer+feasible.+Franchisees%2C+with+their+strong+entrepreneurial+spirit%2C+are+unique+in+that+they+typically+own+these+areas+even+longer.+However%2C+the+decision+to+move+away+from+handling+everything+is+based+around+the+realization+that+time+can+be+spent+more+advantageously+on+other+things+to+drive+the+business.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EJeff+Bannon%2C+a+partner+with+The+Rawls+Group%2C+too+often+sees+franchisees+getting+stuck+only+working+%3Cem%3Ein%3C%2Fem%3E+the+business+versus+%3Cem%3Eon%3C%2Fem%3E+the+business%2C+which+impacts+the+organization%26rsquo%3Bs+ability+to+grow+and+achieve+sustainable+success.+Securing+HR+functions+is+a+fundamental+first+step+which+allows+an+owner+to+delegate+the+HR+tasks+and+move+from+a+weary+taskmaster+to+the+organizational+leader+that+is+required.+Further%2C+a+commitment+to+growth+is+a+commitment+to+finding%2Ftraining+high+performing+managers%2C+which+is+often+hard+to+find.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EAn+HR+department+with+the+right+recruitment+and+development+tools+will+help+ensure+the+right+people+are+getting+in+the+right+seats.+We+asked+Winston+what+milestones+are+most+important+to+add+HR+expertise.+He+says+that+it%26rsquo%3Bs+critical+to+begin+with+the+end+in+mind+and+establish+a+plan+where+you+set+the+foundation+that+allows+the+ability+to+add+the+right+help+when+it%26rsquo%3Bs+most+needed.+In+terms+of+specific+milestones%2C+he+shares%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cul%3E%0D%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EStartup+Phase%3C%2Fstrong%3E+-+Money+is+tight+and+it%26rsquo%3Bs+no+fun+to+have+to+use+your+limited+funds+for+a+non-incoming+producing+person.+In+the+long+run+hiring+someone+will+save+you+money+and+a+lot+of+headaches.+You+will+need+an+external+HR+consultant+and%2For+a+labor+and+employment+attorney+to+help+you+set+a+solid+foundation+based+on+the+laws.+Compared+to+the+salary+of+a+full+time+HR+manager%2C+outsourcing+is+more+affordable+at+this+stage.+A+good+partner+can+help+you+set+up+critical+processes+and+procedures+like+employee+handbook%2C+personnel+files+administration%2C+required+posters%2C+and+provide+you+with+general+advice+that+will+keep+you+legal.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3E25+to+50+Employees%3C%2Fstrong%3E+-+You+may+want+to+consider+hiring+a+PEO+%28Professional+Employer+Organization%29.+PEOs+work+with+small+businesses+to+help+them+manage+payroll-related+taxes%2C+certain+human+resources+functions%2C+access+to+benefits%2C+and+other+employer-related+administrative+functions+necessary+to+running+a+business.+They+are+especially+helpful+in+the+area+of+benefits+and+can+provide+access+to+benefits+at+affordable+rates.+This+is+because+the+PEO+model+typically+aggregates+the+employees+of+many+small+businesses+together+to+harness+the+buying+power+that%26rsquo%3Bs+normally+reserved+for+larger+businesses.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3E50%2B+employees%3C%2Fstrong%3E+-+You+should+seriously+consider+adding+an+in-house+HR+manager.+If+you%26rsquo%3Bve+handled+HR+up+to+this+point+by+yourself%2C+the+50-employee+mark+is+the+absolute+last+stop+for+thinking+you+can+do+it+alone.+The+50-employee+threshold+kicks+off+FMLA+and+other+state+and+federal+regulations.+By+trying+to+save+money+or+expecting+that+your+accountant+or+administrative+employee+can+manage+this+level+of+complexity+and+regulation%2C+you+are+putting+your+company+at+risk.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWinston+says+that+there+are+two+approaches+to+adding+this+critical+position.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Col%3E%0D%0A%3Cli%3EFirst+approach%3A+Hire+an+experienced+HR+professional.+They+can+come+from+any+industry+because+the+laws+are+the+same.+However%2C+he+says+it+is+much+better+if+the+person+has+industry+experience+because+the+challenges+are+very+different+and+there+will+be+a+learning+curve+for+them.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli%3ESecond+approach%3A+Develop+an+internal+person+who+will+become+the+HR+manager.+Hiring+internally+makes+sense+from+many+aspects%2C+and+is+the+approach+Winston+recommends%2C+because%3A%0D%0A%3Col%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22list-style%3A+lower-alpha%3B%22%3Eit+can+show+your+commitment+to+growing+your+employees%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22list-style%3A+lower-alpha%3B%22%3Eit+allows+you+to+retain+your+top+talent+instead+of+losing+it+to+your+competitors.%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22list-style%3A+lower-alpha%3B%22%3Ethe+internal+person+is+already+aligned+with+your+culture%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22list-style%3A+lower-alpha%3B%22%3Eyou+know+what+you%26rsquo%3Bre+getting%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3Cli+style%3D%22list-style%3A+lower-alpha%3B%22%3Eyou+can+save+money%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fol%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fli%3E%0D%0A%3C%2Fol%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3ETo+develop+an+internal+person%2C+Winston+suggests+engaging+an+HR+consultant+who+will+develop+the+individual+and+point+them+to+the+appropriate+educational+resources.+The+consultant+will+also+serve+as+a+reservoir+of+knowledge+and+a+backstop+for+critical+decision-making.+The+combination+of+a+consultant+with+an+internal+person+will+be+less+costly+than+hiring+a+similarly+experienced+HR+person.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3ERegardless+of+when+you+add+a+HR+%26ldquo%3Bcat%26rdquo%3B+ally+to+your+business%2C+you+will+find+that+the+person+will+help+your+business+succeed+and+help+you+avoid+the+landmines+that+are+out+there.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EEnsuring+the+legacy+of+your+franchise+starts+with+making+sure+you+have+your+highest+risk+areas+protected.+Working+with+franchise+owners+and+HR+consultants+like+Winston%2C+we+have+found+that+it+is+an+area+that+is+easily+overlooked+but+can+easily+be+protected.+To+learn+more+about+Winston%26rsquo%3Bs+approach+or+his+background+and+expertise+reach+out+to+him+at+%3Ca+href%3D%22mailto%3Amailto%3Arenay.winston%40people-1.net%3Fsubject%3D%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Erenay.winston%40people-1.net%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp+style%3D%22border-top%3A+1px+solid+%23DDDDDD%3B+padding-top%3A+5px%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cem%3ERenay+Winston%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E+is+the+president+of+People+Management+Solutions%2C+an+HR+consulting+firm.+He+has+worked+at+senior+level+positions+from+Director+to+Vice+President+at+Popeyes+Louisiana+Kitchen%2C+Penske+Automotive%2C+Home+Depot+at+Home+Services%2C+and+CarMax.+He+has+consulted+with+diverse+organizations+from+restaurant+groups%2C+construction+companies+to+advertising+agencies.+If+you+need+a+Cat%2C+email+%3Ca+href%3D%22mailto%3Amailto%3Arenay.winston%40people-1.net%3Fsubject%3D%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Erenay.winston%40people-1.net%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Cem%3EKendall+Rawls%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fstrong%3E+knows+and+understands+the+challenges+that+impact+the+success+of+an+entrepreneurial+owned+business.+Her+unique+perspective+comes+not+only+from+her+educational+background%3B+but%2C+more+importantly%2C+from+her+experience+as+a+second-generation+family+member+employee+of+The+Rawls+Group+-+Business+Succession+Planners.+For+more+information%2C+visit+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rawlsgroup.com%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Ewww.rawlsgroup.com%3C%2Fa%3E+or+email+%3Ca+href%3D%22mailto%3Ainfo%40rawlsgroup.com%3Fsubject%3D%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Einfo%40rawlsgroup.com%3C%2Fa%3E.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E
Published: February 21st, 2019

Share this Feature

Bosch Auto Service
SPONSORED CONTENT
Bosch Auto Service
SPONSORED CONTENT
Bosch Auto Service
SPONSORED CONTENT

Recommended Reading:

Sonny’s BBQ
ADVERTISE SPONSORED CONTENT

FRANCHISE TOPICS

Bojangles
ADVERTISE SPONSORED CONTENT
Multi-Unit Franchising Conference
Conferences
Multi-Unit Franchising Conference
Caesar's Forum, Las Vegas
MAR 24-27TH, 2026

Ford's Garage
Our nostalgic dining experience transports customer to a 1920's garage. Our menu drives broad guest appeal with hand-crafted America fare. Ford's...
Cash Required:
$2,000,000
Request Info
Learn More
Right at Home
Right at Home is in five countries and has over 750 operating locations providing in-home care services to allow seniors and people with disabilities...
Cash Required:
$150,000
Request Info
Learn More

Share This Page

Subscribe to our Newsletters