In an ideal world, we’d never have to worry about firefighting people issues within our businesses. We’d have perfectly crafted policies, highly skilled line managers, and an engaged workforce with individuals who are passionate about helping our operations to reach their full potential.
Of course – things don’t always work out quite this way! Pretty much every business owner has experienced some tricky HR issues during their career, and most would agree – they sometimes come out of nowhere! Now’s not the time to point the finger though. If you’ve found yourself with a complex and confusing people issue that you have to deal with, then right now, you need to be focused on finding the solution.

Here, I’m going to explain more about the steps you can take to get yourself out of an HR pickle.

Use the law as your first port of call
Employment legislation exists for a reason. It’s there to protect workers and ensure that standards are upheld. It can be confusing to navigate at times, but it’s important to recognise that ultimately, it can help you. If you’re handling an HR problem and you’re not sure what to do, the first thing that you should consider is your legal responsibilities.
Suppose, just for example, that your staff come to you and tell you that they feel that they need a pay rise. As long as you’re paying your workers the minimum wage, you aren’t obliged to reconsider your benefits package. Obviously, this doesn’t mean you should just brush the comments under the table. We are in a very competitive recruitment market at the moment, and generally people won’t leave you because of their pay, but they may leave you because other things aren’t right, so being asked this question could be the first sign that somethings not right! However, exemplary employers move past compliance, and consider the bigger picture and the future of their business.

Bring in the experts
Sometimes, knowing the law isn’t enough to cut it. If you’re dealing with a particularly sensitive or complex issue, you might need a little extra help. It’s vital that HR concerns are dealt with in a timely manner, and that you get it right first time, so working with an experienced HR professional could give you that extra peace of mind that you really need.
HR consultants deal with people issues every single day, so we have the knowledge and expertise to cut straight to the heart of a situation, and then deliver the very best solution for your workforce. Give us a call today for a no-obligation chat about what you’re currently facing.

Don’t repeat the same mistakes again
So you’ve handled your HR issue, and you’ve come out the other side breathing a sigh of relief. You’re probably eager to carry on with business as usual, but now’s actually a great time to take a step back and assess your current position and opportunities.
What lessons have you learned? How can you prevent the same thing from happening again? In many cases, if you’ve decided to work with an HR consultant, you’ll be left with a detailed action plan so you can raise your game and become a better employer. You should never forget that ultimately, it comes down to you to make those things happen. Are you serious about nurturing your staff in the best way possible?
Being a good leader isn’t necessarily about avoiding people problems altogether. Issues are sometimes inevitable, and come hand in hand with running a business. What really matters is your ability to handle the situation in a way which best serves your workforce and your organisation.

So how will you manage things differently in the future?
If you find yourself in an HR pickle, don’t forget that you can always give me an urgent call or drop me an email. Better still, why not call me now and we can have a no obligation chat about how to put in an HR plan to avoid those pickles in the first place?