“I can’t afford an HR department, can I do my own HR?”
As a business owner or Managing Director of a small but growing business, keeping costs low will be an important factor in any decision, and you may consider whether you can cover your HR needs yourself in order to save money, after all how hard can it be…? Below we look at whether you can do your own HR, and whether, when you’re already juggling so much, that’s really such a good idea.
As the owner of my company, can I do my own HR?
Yes, as a business owner, you can handle the HR needs of your business – legally there is nothing to prevent this – but in reality, covering everything that ‘HR’ does can be quite time consuming and could prevent you from focussing on the core areas of your business, where your own expertise lie. There are also areas of HR that can be quite complex or stressful, and unless you have the right knowledge and experience, you may struggle to manage effectively.
Can my manager also be HR?
The managers in your business can carry out some HR duties and this is common in small businesses and acceptable for certain tasks, for example carrying out performance appraisals or straight-forward disciplinary hearings. However, employment is one of the more complex areas of law. Not having experienced HR support in place, or not being able to afford to pay for HR support, is not an excuse if you get a claim against your business. There are cost effective ways to get professional HR support, including our own Pay As You Go HR service, and it is strongly recommended that you ensure you have the necessary provision in place before a problem occurs.
Can anyone do HR?
Yes, anyone can learn and gain the tools to be able to complete essential HR tasks and administration, however for more complex issues an HR professional, with a CIPD qualification, will better placed to deliver the best outcome for your business. Experienced HR professionals will be able to draw not only on their qualifications, but on their real-life experience of dealing with similar situations.
The CIPD qualification has different membership grades as someone progresses in their HR career, from foundation member to chartered fellow.
At Pure Human Resources, all our HR consultants are CIPD qualified to level 7, with an Advanced Certificate in Employment Law, and have over 75 years of experience between them.
Can you work in HR without a qualification?
You can work in HR without a qualification but if you are going to progress to higher positions with more responsibility you will usually be required to have secured a CIPD qualification.
It is common in small businesses, for someone without any HR qualifications, to carry out day-to-day to HR administration tasks as part of a wider role, and supplement this by outsourcing the rest of your HR needs to an HR consultancy, such as Pure Human Resources.
If you’re considering doing your own HR but would like to explore how outsourcing HR can save you time, money and stress, contact us for a free no-obligation chat. We can review your current HR needs and recommend a cost-effective HR solution to suit you. We work with clients of all sizes from a wide range of sectors and offer tailored, pragmatic and commercially-minded advice.
