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Payroll Processing & Managed Services

HR Knowledge advises on when and how to outsource human resources

Jeff Garr, CEO

Juggling the needs of your business with business tasks can be a delicate balancing act. Whether you elect to do things in-house or outsource tasks such as human resources depends partially upon the company’s growth, and partially upon finding excellent outsourcing partners.

Jeffrey C. Garr, CEO of HR Knowledge, Inc., a leading HR, payroll and benefits service provider in the Boston area explained, “As a company grows, it’s important to know when to look for support outside of the company. This is referred to as outsourcing. Knowing your strengths helps you to determine what aspects of your business can be outsourced to a specialist, which ultimately saves you time and money in the long run.”

There are five keys to understanding when and how to outsource human resources for success:

1. Know your core value proposition. The first step to intelligently delegating work outside your company is understanding what you do best. This is your core value proposition. Many of the things that are important to running a business will pull your attention and focus away from the core value, and understanding it and knowing what it is that you do best will help your company grow and will also define those things that should be done within the company versus those activities that potentially could be outsourced.

2. Be organized. Before you can delegate you must create the specification of work. The extent in which you can clearly delineate the scope of the project or work will define how successful you will be. In addition, you should create a timetable for deliverables, a template for reporting, and an exit strategy if the relationship isn’t functioning the way you feel it should be. Not creating a clear understanding in the beginning could be a recipe for failure in the future.

3. Know Your Budget. Your time is valuable. You’re more likely productive at your core value proposition that you are to some of the supporting roles that are necessary to run a business. To that extent, outsourcing will actually save you money since you can be much more proficient doing what you do best and simply paying others to do what they do best.

4. Make a Plan. Authorized alterations can be expensive. If you have plan, try to stick to the plan. Each modification that sounds great as the project moves along may wind up costing in the end. Be sure that you have a goal and plan in mind and that you and your outsourced vendor are both sticking to that plan.

5. Don’t Settle. If you aren’t happy with the results or the partnership, it’s possible you missed one of the steps along the way – you may not have made a good plan, or you may not have clearly shared expectations. Either way, if it becomes apparent that the project is not progressing well, you should have an exit plan.

Garr continued, “Understanding and sharing expectations when it comes to outsourcing is critical for the relationship to be effective.”

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients.

HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).

Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge has been recognized as a Gold Level Broker by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. The company is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 890 Winter Street, Suite 208 in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at www.hrknowledge.com

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HR Knowledge Inc. Advises Small Business Owners to Brush Up on the Law

Jeffrey Garr

Employees today are well aware of their rights in the workplace. As a small business owner, are you aware of their rights? HR Knowledge, Inc., providers of integrated HR, payroll and benefits services serving organizations throughout the Northeast with offices located in the Boston metro area, advises small businesses of the importance of knowing employee rights and offers three tips for getting “in the know”.

According to Jeffrey C. Garr, CEO of HR Knowledge Inc., “Employers are not always knowledgeable of their employees’ rights. We find this to be more common in small business. As a matter of fact I just learned of an employer that requires their employees sign an agreement at hire that they cannot take a lunch break or coffee break at any time during the day. They must work their full eight hours daily without any breaks. This is in clear violation of the law, namely that those employees are allowed a minimum of two 10 minute breaks every four hours worked. ”

He continued,”Most employers are good employers; it is the few that treat their employees terribly that affect the rest of us. Nonetheless laws are laws.”

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) is the state’s Chief Civil Rights Agency. Essentially, this government body ensures that all businesses within the State of MA are compliant in their employment of employees. Any employee who feels they have been discriminated against may file a “Charge” or a “Complaint” against that employer at MCAD. Most all complaints must be filed within 300 days of the alleged infraction.

Unfortunately, what small business owners don’t know can hurt them when it comes to employment laws and regulations. Ignorance is not bliss nor is it accepted as an excuse when in violation of the law. If you are caught not following process/procedure/law it can be costly. It is imperative to have the proper “blocking and tackling” in place as an employer to prevent frivolous lawsuits from occurring.

There are attorneys who would be thrilled to take on a case where employee rights have been violated. They take the case on “contingency” which means the employee has legal representation at no cost to them. The attorney is confident enough in the case that he/she will represent the employee on a percentage of the settlement. The employer has to pay for their own legal representation, which can cost thousands of dollars and settlements can be in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.

Garr offers 3 key tips to small business owners:

Obtain proper training. Business owners and any staff that supervises employees should be enrolled in an HR training program. The program should teach key components of effective management of employees and employee rights.

Obtain an HR Audit for your small business. A complete and thorough HR Audit will identify where an employer is not compliant or is at risk. This audit should review your employee handbook, process, procedures for hiring, firing, interviewing, reviews, job descriptions and much more.

Consider Employment Practice Liability Insurance. This is the only liability insurance that will protect an employer from lawsuits in the workplace as discussed in this article. Without this insurance the employer stands alone in claims made against them.

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients. HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM). Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge has been recognized as a Gold Level Broker by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. The company is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 890 Winter Street, Suite 208 in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at www.hrknowledge.com

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HR Knowledge Inc. Offers Sexual Harassment Prevention Training and Tips

HR Knowledge, Inc., a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast with offices in Mansfield and Waltham, recently announced that they provide training on sexual harassment prevention in the workplace. Companies are required by Federal Law to have a Sexual Harassment Policy in place, and annual training of all of a company’s employees provides greater understanding of the policy while reinforcing it.

HR Knowledge has outlined the steps required and suggested to prevent Sexual Harassment in the workplace:

1. Maintain an Employee Guideline that includes a Sexual Harassment Policy.

2. In the Guidelines there should be key elements which include investigation if necessary and non-retaliation, as retaliation can put the company in a greater risk position than they were with the alleged original offense.

3. Ensure that all employees sign off on and accept/receive the Employee Guidelines which should include the Sexual Harassment Policy. Keep this signature page in a safe and secure place.

4. Annual Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for the employees at your company. The training should mention and review the do’s and don’ts for Sexual Harassment and what could be construed as Sexual Harassment. The purpose is to create and maintain a positive and healthy work environment for all employees.

5. Once the training is completed please have each employee sign off that they did attend the training and keep this on file.

6. Finally, HR Knowledge recommends purchasing an insurance policy called EPLI (employment practice liability insurance). This insurance will protect the company from claims made against the company for Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination, Discrimination in the workplace and other type of employment related practices. Without this insurance, companies will have to pay for their own attorney and pay for any claims awarded for an employment practice lawsuit. This insurance should protect you from employment practice lawsuits. (Note: HR Knowledge is not property and casualty insurers. Please consult an insurance agent for more information on EPLI Insurance.)

According to Jeff Garr, CEO of HR Knowledge, “Sexual Harassment claims and awards can amount to a great deal of money, so prevention and education are vital in protecting the company, it’s managers and ownership. HR Knowledge provides this sort of training for organizations on an annual basis.”

Garr has spoken on a wide variety of HR topics ranging from employment issues to social media policies and sexual harassment prevention. He is available for speaking engagements.

To arrange a speaking engagement with Jeff Garr, contact (508) 339-1300.

About HR Knowledge, Inc.
HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients.

HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).
Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge has been recognized as a Gold Level Broker by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. The company is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 890 Winter Street, Suite 208 in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at www.hrknowledge.com

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HR Knowledge Rolls Out New Charter School Division

Ken Bettenhauser

HR Knowledge, Inc., providers of best-in-class integrated human resource services to clients throughout the Northeast, has recently announced a new Charter School Division to specifically cater to the human resource needs of charter schools.

HR Knowledge’s new division and dedicated staff will serve a fast growing charter school client base in the Northeast. HR Knowledge is an HR Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) that provides HR management, Payroll Processing, Managed Services, Group Benefits, Financial Services, Recruiting and Hiring services. The company helps manage the necessary but time-consuming HR administrative tasks; provides state-of-the-art payroll processing solutions as well as “Best in Class” health and welfare benefits, which allows charter school administrators and staff to stay focused on their business – providing the highest quality of education to children.

The division will be led by Kenneth Bettenhauser, one of the co-founders and the President of Brokerage Services at HR Knowledge.

According to Bettenhauser, “The challenges faced by public education have promoted the growth of alternative learning environments. The charter school industry is one of the fastest growing in the nation and because we provide HR services to many of the charter schools in the Northeast, we’ve also experienced significant growth. We are very sensitive to their needs and have developed a specific program which addresses their particular requirements.”

HR Knowledge currently serves over 25 Charter Schools, including: The MATCH School of Boston; Mystic Valley Regional Charter Public School in Malden, MA; City on a Hill Charter Public School in Roxbury, MA; Seven Hills Charter Public School in Worcester, MA; South Shore Charter Public School in Norwell, MA and a number of other charter schools in the Northeast. HR Knowledge has also worked with charter schools in New York, Washington D.C. and Ohio.

More than 75 charter school administrators and staff were in attendance at HR Knowledge’s recent “Navigating a New Course – Celebrating Charter School Excellence” luncheon event which featured a private screening of “Waiting for Superman” movie at the West Newton Cinema. The film is a documentary that analyzes the challenges facing public education starring renowned Education Reformer Geoffrey Canada.

For additional information about HR Knowledge’s Charter School Division, contact Ken Bettenhauser at (508) 339-1300.

More About Charter Schools

In Massachusetts, charter schools are independent public schools that operate under five year charters granted by the Commonwealth’s Board of Education. In New York, charter schools are independent and autonomous and approved by the State University of New York. According to Pennsylvania’s Department of Education, charter schools are self-managed public schools that are approved by local school districts. For more general information about charter schools across the nation, visit uscharterschools.org.

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients. HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).  Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 45 First Avenue in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at hrknowledge.com.

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