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A couple years ago we posted several entries on our website’s updates page with some ideas on how you can get your HR department off to a good start for the year. We thought it would be a good idea to share these again so that you can get your HR house in good order. First, make sure your required postings are updated.  There are certain federal and state postings that must be displayed so that your employees can see them. They cover minimum wage, Family and Medical Leave Act, Equal Employment Opportunity, and others. Your state may also have separate required postings…in Ohio we have to post coverage with workers’ compensation and the state minimum wage.  Your municipality may have additional postings as well. Second, review and update your employee handbook. We’ve talked about this before…a current employee handbook helps your managers manage and helps your employees know what’s expected of them.  We know it seems like a chore to do this, but it can be one of the most useful tools for managing.  You don’t have to agonize over perfect wording…you can always revise it as needed. If something doesn’t work…change it…but make sure you let employees know so that they aren’t caught off guard. Third, audit your HR processes. You may not get to this in Q1 because of all of your other priorities, but make sure you get it into the queue for 2021.  Are there better ways of doing things?  What gaps do you have?  Performing an audit of your HR department can help you spot ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness, and free up time to provide your customers with new or better services.  It can help you get in front of compliance issues as well. Having led HR departments in the past, we know how busy the beginning of the year is with winding down annual enrollment, managing performance appraisals, and getting ready for merit increases.  Spending some time on these other matters in the first quarter will help you prepare for a good year managing your HR function. Do you need assistance with your workforce strategy or other Human Resources consulting needs? Contact us and check out our updates for more helpful resources.