Retained Services
HR Answers offers a retained service program, called the Advantage Plan. We offer organizations information, support, advice, and resources. It is ideal for organizations that do not have a full time HR person, or where the HR staff may need technical support on compliance or complex issues.
Project Services
If you are running out of time or need specialized expertise, we are here to help. Project Services can be used, as needed, without a continued commitment. Our staff are experts at learning where you are and where you want to be, then defining a practical path to success.
Background Checks
Completing criminal background checks on potential employees can save an organization from hiring unsavory individuals. We understand this process absorbs more of your time and we would be happy to facilitate the process for you. Allow us to provide you peace of mind in your final onboarding steps.
Change Management
Do you see the need for change or are you hearing “that needs to change” frequently, and all you can see is a big blank monitor screen with a tiny blinking cursor that hasn’t moved? Change is not always easy and one step that might help is to categorize your thoughts into the logical steps needed to accomplish change. Following Kotter’s 8-step model we can help identify the process and steps needed for your best success.
Coaching and Mentoring
Executives, senior managers, teams, or individuals can always benefit from an outside perspective. Regardless of the need, a specific concern, or next steps in a career, we help individuals identify the gap between where they are now, where they want to be, and how to get there.
Compensation
Salary surveys, base pay programs, incentive systems, salary structures, policy and philosophy development, performance appraisal and merit pay systems, job evaluation, job ranking or grading programs, pay equity, and determination of exempt vs. non-exempt status are parts of compensation that need continued attention. We can provide expertise in design, refinement, and implementation of total compensation systems or segments.
Compliance
Digesting the mountain of federal, state, and local regulations is time consuming and just about the time you think you have it figured out, something changes. The potential costs of response to claims, lawsuits, and loss of credibility with employees and customers make this a top priority in most organizations. Our team is up to date and can work with you to find the practical path to compliant management.
Employee Surveys
Do you actually know what your employees are thinking? Have you shared your thoughts with them? Employee surveys provide a road map for problem solving, facilitate communication in organizations, address employee relations concerns, and provide a baseline from which change can be made. We can help you develop questions and answers, reports, the roadmap to make change, and the communication necessary for achievements that balance organization capability with employee interests.
HR Function and Practice Review
Do you ever wonder if you have all that “HR stuff” covered or, if something happens, do you know the process for that? We can help you check by completing a comprehensive review of all human resource activities and materials identifying where standards are met, vulnerabilities exist, and necessary revisions are required.
General HR Questions
Are you feeling a little, or a lot, out of your depth? Do you just need a quick sounding board to confirm you are headed in the right direction? We have the HR answers including compliance and practical application in every aspect of HR including strategic planning, recruitment, employee engagement, employee retention, learning and development, total rewards, the structure of your HR department, organizational effectiveness and development, workforce management, employee and labor relations, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and the laws and rules that govern it all.
Investigations
Did an employee just leave your office or have they sent you an email outlining a complaint or a concern about a work situation that makes them uncomfortable and now you are wondering what to do? We can discuss the situation and help you determine the next steps. If an objective investigation is needed, we can complete a thorough workplace investigation, on any topic, including assessment of the situation, questions for the parties involved, and documentation and presentation of the findings.
Mediation and Facilitated Discussions
Has the communication between groups or individuals in your organization become difficult or non-existent? Is this distracting them and others from accomplishing work? Mediation or facilitated discussion may be the key to re-gaining productivity and good work relationships. These processes allow for a safe place where involved parties can share, listen, and gain awareness of each other’s perspective, and make a joint plan to move forward.
Oregon Pay Equity
While pay equity law continues to impact various states in different ways, Oregon continues to have one of the most comprehensive laws in the United States. As the past few years have required every organization to prioritize things none of us could have dreamed to be a reality, some organizations find themselves with items from them 2019 “to-do” list on their 2022 list. Others find they are ready for re-review or self-audit, especially during these difficult to recruit times. Whatever the case may be, no worries, we are here to help and commit to keeping you up to date on the various impacts from law and rule changes. Let us know if we can help you put a check in the box next to pay equity for your organization. Learn more about Oregon Pay Equity here.
Policy, Process, and Guidelines
How long has the creation or revising of that human resource policy, procedure, or guideline been sitting on your “to-do” list? Wouldn’t it be nice to check it off the list? Visit our Resource Guides to purchase up-to-date samples or contact one of our consultants for an estimate. Applications, handbooks, ADA, leave policies and forms, performance management, separation, and much more.
Recruitment
Attracting, hiring, and onboarding great employees requires a clear vision and sustained attention. What are you looking for, how do you advertise that, where do you advertise that, how do you ensure Equal Opportunity compliance? Who should be involved in interviews, how many interviews should you have, what questions do you ask the candidate, what questions don’t you ask? When do you do a background check, and how many references are appropriate? All of these questions and more are important to the success of your recruitment. We can help you.
Reference Checks
Getting to know a candidate is more than just their interview. Receiving the opinions and feedback of other colleagues can be extremely useful in your decision to move forward. Reference checks can be a time-consuming process, so let us help you by obtaining that information and confirming your finalist is the best choice to join your team.