Over the past month I’ve heard or overheard more bad HR stories than I’d like to repeat. With the exception of a handful, the stories have come from companies with no HR department. Most of those companies have less than 50 employees, one had seven.
Which got me thinking, who teaches small business owners about HR law? I’m not talking about best HR practices; I’m talking about basic and fundamental HR law; Wage and Hour, Harassment, Title VII.
One story I heard was a job offer in which they owner said they like to make sure employees are paid for what they work so they pay overtime in the form of a car allowance cut in a separate check. This was the company with seven employees.
Another story involved a handbook that hasn’t been updated since 1997 and is still issued to new employees. This company has 45 employees.
Should the Small Business Association take a larger part in educating small business owners? What about business owners that don’t belong to the SBA?
Are local SHRM chapters reaching out to small business owners to educate them on basic HR law?
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One of the chapters in Illinois is very successful in reaching small employers through their local Chamber of Commerce. It is something I would like to see replicated throughout the state and with a possible involvement with the State Chamber. Not sure I would trust the SBA to do the job.