Business News Column
October 2005
Healthcare Human Resources 101
By Liz Sayre-King
President, Professional Solutions Plus
Our employees sometimes use their personal vehicles to run company errands during business hours. Recently, one of them was involved in an accident on company time. Am I responsible for damages and medical expenses?
The short answer to your question is yes. Any medical expense would be covered under your workers' compensation insurance, since the employee was performing work-related duties during company time. As for the vehicle damage, if you expect employees to run errands for you in their personal vehicles, be sure they have their own insurance – but I would advise you to limit this activity. According to the Society for Human Resources Management (September 2002), "Employers should bear in mind that, regardless of who owns and insures the vehicle, they are liable for accidents and damage that occur when the vehicle is used for business."
Can you offer some tips for recruiting new employees that will help us attract the best people to our organization?
Be well prepared before you start the recruitment process. Specifically define the duties of the position. Determine whether your wage range is competitive with the marketplace. And remember that even though the cost of a classified ad is based on the number of lines in it, you'll attract more and better people if you are specific about what you are looking for and what your company has to offer in terms of working conditions and benefits. Conducting interviews can be very time-consuming, but a general rule of thumb is to try to talk to at least six candidates for each position. Your questions should all require more than just a "yes" or "no" answer, and you should structure the interview so that the potential employee does most of the talking. You may want to call the top three candidates back for a second round of interviews and include other key staff members in the process at that point. It's always better to have as much input as possible from trusted colleagues before you make a hiring decision. Finally, check references. Sometimes you'll learn more from what isn't said during a reference check than what is.
What types of external services are available to ease the HR and administrative load of small businesses?
It's possible to contract with human resources experts – Professional Employment Organizations, or PEOs – on an "as needed" basis, as well as for complete employment services. HR consultants can help with recruiting, training, employee surveys, and other specific HR issues. They will work with you to write job descriptions, conduct regular wage reviews, develop HR policies, and fill open positions. Since the PEO is the "employer of record," they also provide payroll services, benefits negotiations and administration, government reporting, and regulatory compliance.
Professional Solutions Plus specializes in employee leasing and medical billing services for small to medium-sized businesses in Northern Michigan. If you have questions about employment or HR issues, please contact PSP president Liz Sayre-King: esayreking@professionalsolutionsplus.com.
<
Back
| 
