Knowing when to outsource your HR
Most small to medium sized business owners know the frustration of spending more time than they want on non-revenue generating activities. From payroll and human resource management to benefits and compensation, managers and directors can spend a significant proportion of their day engaged in these necessary but time consuming tasks.
The answer for many businesses may be to outsource part or all of their HR functions to third party providers so that they can focus on their core business.
Generally speaking, the top three reasons cited for outsourcing HR are access to skills and knowledge, gaining better quality support than the business is able to be offer in-house and the costs saved. This saving comes from the company either not requiring an HR person in-house, or enabling the person who had taken on the HR function to focus on revenue generating work. I’ve found the most commonly outsourced HR activities are legal services, payroll and pensions.
But when does it make sense for you to outsource? In assessing whether you should or not, there are several questions to consider before you make a decision.
How big is your company?
In my experience, businesses with fewer than 50 employees rarely have an HR team. Instead they may have a manager or finance director who dabbles in HR because they have some relevant experience in their dim and distant past which seemingly qualifies them to deal with all the people issues that arise. As a rule of thumb, organisations with more than 50 employees will often find it easier to have an in-house HR department and therefore, though they may still require outsourced HR support, the nature of that service may differ greatly from that utilised by the smaller business.
What services do you need?
The nature of the work undertaken by an outsourced HR consultant varies hugely dependent on the nature of the business and the talents of the employees within the organisation. With regard to my practice, I work for organisations with no HR department ensuring the business meets all necessary legal requirements in terms of policies and contracts. In addition, I deal with – or support the relevant people within the business who are dealing with – any employee relations issues as they arise including discrimination claims, redundancy, grievances and dismissals. I also work for businesses which do employ an HR team – I may be called in to support that team when issues arise that require expert advice.
How much does an outsourced service cost?
It is important to establish up front the way in which the outsourced service is billed. By and large, the cost of the service varies depending on the level of outsourcing that is required. For example, I may be asked to assist on a specific well-defined project in which case I will estimate the cost involved, or at least offer a range of costs within which it will fall. Alternatively, I may work alongside the business dealing with day-to-day issues on a retained basis, or, I may be called in to sort an “emergency” for which I charge an hourly rate.
What type of provider do you want?
Do you want a “face” who gets to know your business, staff and culture, who can be flexible in the service you offer and who, by virtue of being an email or phone call away, can operate as if you have your very own HR department? Alternatively, you may sign up to a HR support line – a less personal service but one that may suit the nature of your business and complement the expertise you already have within your organisation. The type of service I offer falls into the former example but it is “horses for courses” and the latter may be suitable where there is an experienced HR team who just need reassurance from time to time.
I would say that as a general rule of thumb, when administrative processes begin slowing down the productivity of the firm is the time to consider outsourcing the management of your human resources. Good employee relations are not simply “nice to have” but important to get right as they can directly affect the future revenues of your business.
By prioritising employee engagement you will ensure you are not burdened by high employee turnover, low morale or ineffective teamwork. Instead you will have employees who are productive, enthusiastic and effective, enabling you to maintain an edge in a highly competitive environment. The attraction and retention of talent is now such a business critical operation that for many businesses, outsourcing their HR function is the best way to ensure that what is arguably their most valuable asset is well managed, freeing them up to concentrate on their core business