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You’re never too small to have good HR practices. You may not have the budget to afford an HR professional, but there are other ways to have a professional on your team.

Do you understand the difference between exempt and non-exempt pay status? If not, and you have employees working for you, you better learn.

As a small business owner, do you know what to pay your employees or how to pay them? The Department of Labor is the arm of our government that ensures employees are properly paid. Do you know the rules?

One of the many challenges faced by small business owners is dealing with employee relations issues. I’ve heard some say their troubles began when they hired their first employee. You see, they know the product and service they’re providing, but they don’t know what they need to know in order to be in compliance with...

When possible, having employees involved in decision-making or policy development gives them the buy-in to influence others and accept the results.

One of the best tips I can give you with regard to recruiting is “hire slow, fire fast.” In other words, when hiring someone, take your time and properly vet them. On the other hand, when someone is not working out, don’t waste any time. Take action quickly.

Thank employees for the work they do. My first boss would walk around the department on paydays and hand each of us our checks. When we would thank her, she would always say “No, thank you for the hard work. It is so appreciated.” She was a special lady and helped me build the strong...

Communication is key when it comes to employee relations. I’ve seen situations where rumors started due to lack of communication. The rumors were actually far more damaging than the truth.

No matter how small your business is, you should have an employee handbook. Even with one employee. It is wise to have the rules and policies documented and communicated to all.

I always recommend exercising caution when terminating an employee. You do not want to jeopardize the safety of your employees or you. When in doubt or if you have concerns, have the necessary witnesses and call for outside help with law enforcement. It’s better to be safe than sorry.