As a business owner, your primary focus is on the success of your core business. Whether you own a small retail outlet, technology start-up, accounting, legal, medical or other professional services firm, or some other type of business, concerns that distract you from providing the best goods or services and top-notch customer relations can negatively impact your bottom line. Non-core-business matters, however, simply are part of doing business, and one of these is human resources management.

More so than many other non-core-business matters, such as facilities management, HR issues span a broad and complex terrain. "HR" encompasses hiring and firing, labor relations, employee benefits, workers' compensation and other legally mandated benefits, pay and overtime, and myriad other issues, many of which are governed by federal, state and/or local laws and regulations. Regardless of the size of your company, these types of matters need the attention of an HR professional, GBAC offers a full HR Services Consulting Division to help you deal with these matters.

You only need to consider some of the possible scenarios to realize how important it can be to have HR matters in the hands of a capable, experienced HR professional. Such examples include:

• A bad hiring decision can result in poor product, bad customer service, mistakes and incompetence, and disgruntled co-workers. An improperly handled termination can result in a lawsuit.
• A poorly written employee handbook can lead to ineffective workplace policies and difficulty in enforcing workplace rules.
• Failure to pick up on and promptly intervene in a dispute between co-workers or between an employee and manager can cause the situation to worsen and turn into allegations of discrimination or harassment.
• A missed filing deadline for an employee benefits plan report can result in monetary fines and penalties from the government agencies that oversee the plans.

As these few examples illustrate, there can be numerous consequences for improperly handling HR-related matters: lawsuits by employees, missed filing deadlines, pay structures that are out of step with those of your company's competitors, regulatory audits/investigations, poor employee morale, and fines/penalties from federal, state and local agencies.

If you select GBAC for our service offering we can provide you with a trained and seasoned HR professional to assist with your company's HR functions. Here are a just few of the advantages:

• Up-to-date knowledge of current federal and state laws and regulations governing HR issues. This will be particularly important in the employee benefits area, to which numerous, seemingly ever-changing rules apply.
• A professional touch when it comes to writing employee handbooks and company employment policies and manuals.
• Experience in developing and administering disciplinary policies and hiring/termination practices, including knowledge of interviewing techniques to enhance hiring decisions and experience with progressive discipline to minimize negative consequences from firing decisions.
• Know-how in dealing with communications difficulties and conflicts between co-workers and between employees and supervisors. Given the sensitive nature of particular conflicts, such as those involving alleged harassment or discrimination, and the potential legal liability if such conflicts are not handled properly, the cost of outsourcing to a HR professional with expertise in this area can pay for itself quickly.
• Perspective on effective training techniques for supervisors and managers.
• Contacts with reputable third-party administrators and service providers.
• Knowledge about administrative systems and how to best use technology in HR and communications functions.

The HR function is too important to be left to those without the training and expertise in this highly specialized area. Allocate this important function to a professional…and then devote your time and attention to making your company's core business the best that it can be.

For additional information please check out our full line of HR Consulting Services here, speak with your GBAC account manager, or contact Pamela Wilkens, Director of HR Consulting at 203.985.1709.

ABOUT GBAC

GBAC has been providing superior insurance products and services to businesses and families for over 35 years. Our dedicated team of benefit experts specialize in every type of insurance coverage. With unparalleled customer service, our mission is to provide the very best value to our clients. Let GBAC take some or all of the responsibility of managing your healthcare program and allow you more time to focus on your business. For more information, please call 203.239.3843.