Human Resources Overview
Strong communication and relationships are key to a harmonious and successful working environment. Our aim is to support and strengthen the interactions across all your staffing levels and establish positive and constructive relationships. Our adaptable approach allows us to address specific needs and focus on employee experience, compliance and managing performance within the context of your organization.
- We believe decisions should be influenced by context, circumstance and the law
- We believe the delivery is as important as the message
- We believe HR expertise builds a strong foundation for organizational leadership
- We believe proper administration and compliance ensure effective operation
HR Management Services
Develop, Update and Interpret HR Policies and Procedures – We work with you to create and update HR policies and procedures required for legal compliance and that are appropriate for your organizational setting. We develop or update employee handbooks and assist in consistently communicating all policies to employees.
Organizational Messaging
We help you deliver important information to employees in a way that minimizes disruption and gets across the tone of your message in the most effective way.
Crisis and Issue Mitigation
We help you navigate challenging employment matters and triage issues effectively and professionally.
Coordinate Benefit, Insurance and Legal Relationships
We can serve as your HR department, acting as a liaison to and streamlining communications with all benefit insurance, vendor and legal service providers.
Coaching and Training
Working in cooperation with senior management, we coach and train staff individually and through organized group sessions.
Benchmarking
We provide comparative HR data and insight based on the practices and benefits of other companies of similar size with comparable issues. We also partner with compensation experts for more complex study needs.
Performance Management
We work with you to design a system tailored to your setting and needs. We can assist in coaching or mediation with regard to support performance management.
Disciplinary Action
We work with you to design performance improvement goals and timelines, and to deliver difficult news to employees in a way that is direct, fair, and professional.
Assessments and Audits
Review and Document Existing Practices and Processes – We conduct interviews and documentation and system reviews to distill what is in place and what might be missing or inefficient from a best practices or compliance perspective.
Identify Compliance Issues
We flag areas that present compliance risks to our client and recommend and implement solutions.
Recommend Process Improvements
Recognizing that all improvements cannot be addressed at once we help you prioritize and stage them in a cost effective and practical manner with timelines, next steps, and cost estimates.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Services
Incorporating a wide range of DEIB services ensures that organizations not only train their staff but also embed DEIB principles into their core operations and culture.
DEIB Assessment and Strategy Development
• Organizational Assessments: Conduct comprehensive assessments to measure the current state of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the organization.
• Strategic Planning: Developing and implementing strategic DEIB plans that align with organizational goals.
Training and Workshops
• Allyship Training: Educating employees on how to be effective allies in promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Inclusive Recruitment and Hiring Practices: Strategies to attract and hire a diverse workforce.
• Leadership and DEIB: Equipping leaders with the skills and knowledge to lead DEIB initiatives effectively.
Consultation and Support
• Policy Review and Development: Assisting in the creation and review of policies to ensure they promote an inclusive environment.
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Supporting the formation and effective management of ERGs to foster a sense of belonging among diverse groups.
Executive Coaching on Inclusive Leadership
Personalized Coaching Sessions
• One-on-one sessions tailored to address the unique DEIB challenges and goals of individual executives.
• Inclusive Leadership Development: Enhancing the ability of executives to lead diverse teams effectively and create an inclusive workplace culture.
Strategic DEIB Planning
• Vision and Strategy Alignment: Helping executives to integrate DEIB principles into the organization’s strategic vision and business strategies.
• Change Management: Coaching on managing and implementing organizational change to support DEIB initiatives.
Accountability and Metrics
• Setting DEIB Goals and KPIs: Assisting executives in setting measurable DEIB goals and monitoring their progress.
• Accountability Frameworks: Developing systems to hold leaders accountable for DEIB outcomes.
Communications and Storytelling
• Effective DEIB Communication: Training on how to communicate DEIB initiatives and successes internally and externally.
• Storytelling for Impact: Utilizing storytelling to share DEIB journeys and inspire change across the organization.
Additional Support Services:
• Peer Learning Groups: Facilitating peer coaching groups where executives can share experiences and learn from each other.
• Resource Libraries: Providing executives with access to DEIB resources such as books, articles, and research reports.
• Ongoing Support and Follow-up: Continuous support and follow-up sessions to ensure sustained progress and impact.
Other Services
• Climate Surveys: Conducting surveys to gather data on employee experiences and perceptions related to DEIB.
• Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship programs that support underrepresented groups.
• Community Outreach and Partnerships: Building partnerships with diverse communities and organizations to enhance DEIB efforts.
Talent Acquisition
We can manage the full talent acquisition process for you including executive searches and staffing. Our consultants can assist in developing job descriptions and then source, interview and facilitate the hiring process for you on an hourly basis. This pricing structure allows you to work with us on the full hiring process or on aspects that may be helpful in supplementing your internal efforts on an outsourced basis. Our hourly pricing has historically been 50-75% more cost effective than using a contingency fee-based agency and we can work with you to come up with a budget and plan that works for you.
Hiring and Transitions
Onboarding
We provide an HR welcome and orientation for your new employees so their first day on the job is organized and well run. We meet every new hire and develop a rapport that makes future interactions with that employee easier, even if the topic isn’t always easy. We make sure your onboarding process is compliant and streamlined.
Terminations
We help you deliver news of a termination in a way that protects your company and is respectful to the departing employee. We provide all required documentation and can assist with involuntary termination processes or layoffs including release of claims documents.
Benefits Design and Administration
Health and Dental Insurance
We help you design these benefit packages for your employees, tailored to your priorities and budget, and work with outside vendors to get you information in as much or as little detail as you desire. We also promote your health and dental plan options to employees in a concise and helpful way based on the needs of that employee.
Life and Disability Insurance
We help you figure out what you need, what it costs and when to add it to your benefits package. We can assist in computing life insurance taxes and other administrative duties associated with administering life and disability benefits.
Retirement Plans
Working with financial advisors, retirement investment platforms and third-party administrators, we facilitate the process of setting up and administering 401(k) and 403(b) plans. We simplify the process by helping you understand the setup requirements and outlining the design options in understandable terms.
Supplemental Benefits
We help you design an incentive program tailored to the interests and priorities of your organization; for example, pretax transportation passes, wellness benefits, recognition incentives, vision plans and others.
Pretax Plans
We explain pretax plans including Section 125 plans, HRAs/HSAs/ FSAs – and help you determine which, if any, are best for your business and your employees. We work with vendors to implement plans and ensure employees understand the options and savings available to them during onboarding and open enrollment periods.
Compliance and Reporting
Personnel File Management
We set up and maintain personnel files in a legally compliant format so you can access the information you need and protect your organization in the event of an audit. We maintain protected electronic files.
Employee Census Data
We maintain all employee census data for internal reference and for benefits pricing to ensure it is continuously updated in real time.
System Development and Implementation
We create HR systems by working with you to develop a simple or more robust system based on your needs, and partnering when it is cost effective for you.
Performance and Other Documentation
We write, review and/or train you on performance documentation so that it gets you the results you want and protects you from legal vulnerability.
Incident Investigations
We investigate harassment or other claims and assist you in determining the facts and taking necessary actions.
Background Checks
We conduct CORI and more extensive background checks using the state system and national vendors when required. We routinely administer and review education, criminal, credit, and other checks, and assist in determining which checks are needed for your specific business.
Implementation of State and Federal Benefits and Mandates
We help you implement State and Federal Benefits and Mandates like MA Paid Medical and Family Leave based on the latest developments for your company size and employee mix. Our new hire and termination processes incorporate any required disclosures and actions required by State and Federal regulations.
