How To Become an HR Expert For Your Small Business

Owning and operating your small business is no simple task.  If you are just starting out you have to manage almost, if not, every aspect of the company, including administration and human resource needs. As an employer and small business owner, you never want to give your employees the impression you don’t know what you are doing or talking about. 

To help you avoid a “deer in the headlights” episode we have put together a list of human resource terminology you need to know. Here is how you can become an HR expert for your small business.                               

How To Become an HR Expert For Your Small Business

At-will Employment

At-will employment describes an employee that can be fired at any moment for any reason. As an employer, if you decide to terminate an employee, the employee has limited legal rights to fight the termination. At-will employment also stipulates that an employee may leave at any time for any reason with or without notice.

Exempt & Non-Exempt Employees

In a nutshell, exempt employees are excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other protections that fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Non-exempt employees are required to be paid minimum wage and overtime for any time worked over 40 hours in a week.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Commonly referred to as the ADA, The Americans with Disabilities Act ensures equal opportunities for people with disabilities in areas of employment, public accommodations, transportation, and government services.

Background Check

A term we have all heard at least once in our life. A background check is a form of investigation into a potential employee’s background regarding their employment history, education, criminal record, license record, and even a credit check, if necessary.

Employee Benefits

Employee benefits are incentives provided to employees received in addition to wages. Standard benefits include health insurance, pension plans, sick leave, vacation time, retirement, etc.

COBRA

No, we’re not referring to a snake (Laughing emoji). COBRA stands for The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act which was passed in 1985. This law requires employers with 20 or more employees that offer health care benefits to also provide a continuing coverage option to those who lose their benefits due to termination or reduction in hours.

Employee vs. Independent Contractor

Employee – a person hired to perform services for a company.

Independent Contractor – an individual who provides goods or services to another individual or business.

Onboarding

Onboarding refers to the process of welcoming and integrating a new employee into your company. This process typically starts with a background check and includes everything from completing required paperwork to being introduced to co-workers.

Employee Handbook

An employee handbook sometimes referred to as a manual, is a written guide given to employees upon employment that includes everything an employee should know regarding your company policies. Information including procedures, company culture, vacation time, etc., are all covered in this handbook.

Note: It is important to be very detailed in this handbook since most employees refer back to it throughout their tenure with your business.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC)

More than likely you have heard this term several times throughout the years but never knew what it meant. The EEOC is an organization that is responsible for enforcing federal laws which makes it illegal to discriminate against an applicant for several factors, including race, color, sex, religion, age (40 or older), disability, etc.

Exit Interview

A conversation with an employee who is preparing to leave the organization. This interview helps the employer gain a better understanding of why the employee decided to leave and hear about their overall experience while at the organization.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

The FLSA establishes the amount of minimum wage and overtime pay; recordkeeping, and child labor standards that affect both full-time and part-time employees.

Little known fact: The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor enforces the FLSA.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The FMLA provides individual employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year and group health benefits to be maintained during that leave. This law applies to all public agencies.

Labor Law Poster

A labor law poster is mandated by state and federal employment law and provides notice for employers that must be posted in an area frequently visited by all employees. These posters are typically posted in hallways, break rooms, etc.

Minimum Wage

Minimum wage is the lowest wage permitted by law (from a federal or state level) that a worker can be paid. Currently, the federal minimum wage for covered non-exempt employees is $7.25 per hour – this has been unchanged since 2009.

Non-compete Agreement

If you’ve never heard of this before, don’t feel bad (I didn’t either). After doing some research, here is what I learned about a non-compete agreement.

A non-compete agreement serves as a contract between employees and employers that states the employee must not enter into competition with the employer after that employee is no longer with the company.

Performance Review

A performance review is a discussion between the employer and employee that evaluates and documents the employee’s job performance.

Workers’ Compensation

Often referred to as “worker’s comp,” worker’s compensation is a form of insurance that provides benefits to employees who suffer job-related injury or illness.

Got the basics down pat? Well, we sure think you do! You are now one step closer to becoming an expert.

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