HR Essentials for Small Business Owners
Running a small business is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle… except your torches are employees, contractors, and a pile of paperwork. HR can feel overwhelming, but if you focus on the three big areas, you’ll stay on top of your game.
Play by the Rules (aka Employment Standards Compliance)
Look, I know it can feel like a pain, but the rules are there for a reason. Here in BC, we have the Employment Standards Act (ESA) that lays out the minimums for everything from wages and hours to overtime, breaks, and vacation time.
Why should you care? Because not following these rules can land you in hot water with complaints, fines, and all kinds of legal headaches. The good news? You don't need a law degree. Just keep a simple checklist of the ESA requirements and give it a quick review now and then.
Get Your Hiring and Payroll Right
This is one of those areas where a mistake can really cost you. Make sure you know the difference between an employee and a subcontractor. It's a huge deal. And when it comes to payroll, you've got to make sure you're following all the CRA rules, and that you're handling benefits, deductions, and overtime correctly.
Why does this matter? Misclassifying someone or making payroll mistakes can lead to an audit or a surprise bill from the government. So before you hit "submit" on that payroll, double-check your deductions. And when you're hiring, write a solid job description so everyone's on the same page from the start.
Get Some Simple Policies in Place
Even if your team is tiny, having some written guidelines makes life so much easier. Think about things like how you onboard new people, how you handle performance, what your expectations are for workplace conduct, and how you resolve disputes.
Why bother? Because policies protect both you and your team. They help your employees know exactly what's expected of them, and they give you a clear framework to work from. Just keep them simple and easy to understand. I'd recommend reviewing them at least once a year, just to make sure they're still working for you.
My 2Cents
HR doesn't have to be this big, scary monster. If you just focus on these three things, you'll cover most of your major risks and keep your team happy and productive.
Think of it like building a house. Compliance is your foundation, proper onboarding and payroll administration are your walls, and policies are your roof. You can't skip any of them, or things will get messy in a hurry. But if you get these right, you'll have a solid business and a happy team. And that, my friend, is a good feeling.
