HR Implementation for Startups: Early Aspects to Consider

hr policies for start ups

Is your startup ready to get started with HR best practices? Reaching the point of expanding your team beyond being an individual proprietor to adding additional employees is an incredibly exciting accomplishment, but can also feel quite daunting. Making sure you have the right resources and practices on your side will go a long way towards setting a future path towards success. Establishing clear HR guidelines is one of the best ways to ensure that you, as well as your team (both present and future), are protected as you continue to grow in the future.

At Pivot HR, we know setting the groundwork for human resources can be difficult. That’s why our consultants are here to help offer you a clear path forward, alongside vetted expertise you can trust. Below, we’ll cover some of the basics of getting your business or organization set up with HR best practices. Read on to learn more!

Why You Need HR Best Practices

As you’ve likely come to realize, there’s no end to the ins and outs of running a business or organization, especially when it comes to managing people. Human Resources is your first line of defence and allows you to create a safe, happy workplace that makes sure everyone is protected when it matters most. The stronger your HR policies are, the easier it will be for your team to navigate both trying and exciting times and ensure that you are always in compliance with all relevant standards.

Implementing Standards

Making sure you have the right policies and processes in place will take time, and while there are some basic essentials you need to make sure you have ready right away (more on those below), the best way to begin is to make a plan that covers where you are now, where you intend to be growth-wise in the next 6,12, and 18 months, as well as further down the line. Partnering with an experienced consultancy can make it easy to figure out where you need to focus your attention at each stage and help protect you from the many mistakes and hiccups that can otherwise occur along the way.

Focusing on Basics

As we mentioned above, there are a few important policies you need to make sure to implement as soon as possible. These basics deal with standard practices with regards to hiring, onboarding, compensation and dismissal grounds, but also core information on:

Health & Safety

Health and safety should always be at the forefront of your priorities and having a set policy is just one way to make sure you have guidelines in place to protect your crew. From the proper handling of materials to dealing with sick employees, evacuation and fire practices, and everything in between, you need to make sure you have this policy ready to go as quickly as possible.

Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination

Of equal importance to health and safety is a clear set of standards with regards to your stance on bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Not only do you need to make sure you’re in compliance with all provincial/federal standards, but you also want to ensure that there is no ambiguity in your bylaws when it comes to dealing with such matters. Bullying and harassment is a major issue that can have profound repercussions on your entire team, so setting standards early on is a must for everyone’s protection.

Grievances & Disciplinary Actions

The reality of growing your team is that conflict is an inevitability. Having a set policy to handle disagreements and issues as they arrive is an absolute must, and should be a forefront priority as you continue to expand. In the same vein, having clearly outlined guidelines as to how your organization handles misconduct is essential and will protect all involved parties down the road should something happen.

Code of Conduct

Your code of conduct will likely evolve over time as you continue to add team members and the business/organization itself evolves. Even so, having a basic framework about what you expect in terms of punctuality, performance, treatment of others, and all other pertinent aspects will help everyone to excel and guide your progress.

Lay the Foundation for Success with Pivot HR

Ready to make sure you have everything to conquer the Human Resources world? We’re here to help! Partnering with us makes managing your HR matters simple, approachable, and alleviates stress for the whole team.

Learn how we can help guide your policy development by contacting us today!

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