As we all know, the hot topic for the past year has been COVID-19.  Recently the conversation has turned from doom and gloom to hope and excitement for the future.  Something as simple as the possibility of hugging someone special or walking into a public place without a mask is infusing life back into our community. I know I am bursting at the seams as I look forward to the upcoming summer.  Full disclosure, I may hug the first person who steps on my toes as I push through a crowded room.

As we watch the COVID numbers decrease and the vaccination numbers increase, the small business community is eager to do our part.  Supporting community vaccinations in our businesses through optional or mandatory vaccination policies has brought a ton of questions to the table.   Below are a few questions that we have been able to help the small business community navigate.

Q:  Required Vaccinations vs. Recommended Vaccinations…what should I consider?

A:  There are many pros and cons to weigh ...

Photo Credit: moodboard 

If you’re singing “where have all the good candidates gone,” you’re not alone.

Between economic pain and the ongoing pandemic, we’re seeing the same trend across every city and every industry: Hiring is TOUGH!

Applications are feast or famine, candidates aren't returning calls or showing up for interviews and while I don’t have the answers to this problem - nor do I have a magic wand - I CAN tell you that there are excellent hires are out there. But they are also more likely to get snatched up on the job market, so you’ll need to put some hustle in your bustle during the hiring process if you want them on your team.

For years, I was a recruiter for a large mechanical contractor (along with Reanna Werner, founder of HR Branches) and experienced the ebb and flow of the construction industry for both workers and contracts. There was always a lack of skilled manpower so we had to get creative to attract the right talent.

Knowing our employees and being marr...

Now that we have officially entered Autumn, we get to enjoy cooler weather, the beautiful changing leaves, pumpkin everything and cozying up under a blanket. In a few weeks, we will start seeing holiday merchandise show up in stores and commercials on our TVs; this is our cue to start thinking about office holiday planning.  

2020 has provided a number of opportunities to be creative in creating social experiences and connections, and holiday party planning is no exception. As an employer, you have one very important choice to make to get the holiday party planning process started: Do you plan a virtual or in-person holiday party? Each option poses several considerations to weigh in when planning.  No matter which way you choose to host your holiday party, be prepared to adjust and adapt.  As we have all learned this year, anything can change at any moment.  A few ideas for in-person holiday party ideas are:

In-Person Holiday Party:

If you intend to plan an in-person holiday p...

When to Use an Outside Investigator & Choosing an Outside Investigator

By Gene R. Thornton, Esq.  *

Whenever an employer receives a complaint of sexual harassment or other workplace misconduct, a prompt, thorough, and fair investigation should be conducted.  Following the investigation, appropriate remedial measures should be implemented.  That much is basic employment law and human resource management.  But who should perform the investigation?  Should it be done by the employer’s HR manager, office manager or safety officer, if any?  Should it be done by the accused employee’s supervisor?  Or should an outside investigator be retained and, if so, what qualifications should be sought in the outside investigator.

Simple Investigations—Outside Investigator Probably Not Needed

If the allegations concern performance issues, employee relations, then the employer can probably do without an outside investigator.  It will probably be fairly easy to determine what more likely than not o...

On Thursday, July 16, 2020, Governor Jared Polis implemented a 30-day statewide mask order in the state of Colorado (there is a possibility of extension).  This order impacts every way we conduct business, work with our employees and serve your customers. There are a number of considerations that you need to apply when staying compliant.  Read on to learn how to apply this order to your business operations.

There is significant debate about the mask order and deep-rooted feelings for and against this order.  As you maneuver through implementing and staying compliant with this order, you will encounter these perspectives.  No matter what your personal thoughts are, it is important to know what is expected of you as a business owner.  Without further ado, let's dive right in.  

Your Working Environment:

Within the Colorado mask order, you do have to be mindful of when your staff must wear a mask.  You and your team are required to wear a mask when:

• Working with the public 
• Enterin
...

We knew this was going to continue to be a big year for legislation and it just keeps on coming. Be sure to follow our HR Branches Facebook as we will be going live to discuss these legislative changes now as well as in the future. Feel free to submit your questions in advance by emailing [email protected] or giving us a call at 719-244-9640.

Without further adieu, lets dive in shall we?

The federal mandate FFCRA (Families First Coronavirus Response Act) we reported on a few months ago was just the shallow end of the pool. Get your life vest- this isn't a kiddie pool folks, the "Healthy Families and Workplaces Act" is white water rapids for the small business community.  Carefully navigating these treacherous waters to keep your business afloat is going to be crucial.

On July 14, 2020 Colorado Govenor, Jared Polis signed the "Healthy Families and Workplaces Act" into law.  In the state of Colorado, only 60% of employees have paid time off through their employer. While this bill...

 Let's face it, even if we don't have the intention to hire in our small businesses, we may be left with no choice. Employees laid off during the stay-at-home orders may not want to come back. They might have found work elsewhere, they may have decided to stay home with the kids, or they may just not want to work for you anymore. This pandemic has caused most of us to take a deep look into what we want and planning for the future.

You are potentially left with positions you need to replace, new skillsets that have come to light since business has changed, or maybe your industry is one of the ones that is growing and thriving right now. No matter what it is, you are being lead to the market to meet a demand in your business. Whether you are experienced or need some guidance and organization in this area, this information will help you be more effective in finding the right fit, not just a warm body.

There are three components to a successful recruiting strategy are:

• Preparation
...

How HR Superheroes Save the Day!  

Have you ever heard of the term “superheroes?” I bet you have, and they are all around us. Our favorite superhero is the HR superhero.  HR superheroes may not have a cheesy costume suffocated in tights, profoundly hidden talents to ward off bad guys, or amazingly untouched hair after a long battle, but what they do have are their fair share of small business issues that they take on head first.

One issue that has been heavy on the minds of many small business owners is crisis management, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has hindered millions of employers and their employees around the world, carving its path and making its mark as it goes down in history. However, HR advisors combat many crisis situations, such as this one, making them a vital resource for all companies big and small. Crisis management is often associated with risk and safety, but HR is also the hub for managing uncertainty. They understand the needs of the company and it...

Well, here we are!  It is time to start reopening your business.  We have been flooded with questions on rehiring employees and what you need to do to get started on the right foot.  So, your HR Branches team took a few minutes to address your most common questions about rehiring your employees during this truly unique time in our history.  

Now that I have the PPP loans do I need to rehire that poor performing employee with nothing to do?

Of course, all of us should be looking at bringing back employees... the right employees at the right time.  Moving forward, it will be imperative that we maneuver through the reopening of our businesses with strategy and a well thought out plan.  This starts with rehiring the right employees.  Make sure that you are only inviting employees back into your business who add value and have been a great contributor in the past.  In addition, make sure that you have value-added tasks lined up for them.  This means that your rehired employees' job des...