Human Resources Consultants Key Terms

Discover the key human resources processes consultants can provide

By Ann Starr

Human resources consultants are an invaluable resource for small- to medium-sized businesses that don't have the resources to build the variety of human resources programs and processes required to be successful in today's business environment. An HR consulting service can help you build the infrastructure required to manage a successful business. The key processes may include recruiting, employment screening, employee development, workforce management, salary administration and compliance.

Sourcing

Sourcing is the process of identifying and screening candidates for a position in your organization. Successful organizations use strategies such as hiring a temporary employee to test them out and using LinkedIn and Facebook to find the right employee. HR consultants can be helpful in assisting you with the best methods to use for your business.
Try: For an overview of some of the steps you should take to maximize online recruiting go to hrworld.com. Go to Aerotek for an overview of a typical hiring process.

Employment screening

Employment screening is the process of reviewing records on potential employees to objectively evaluate their qualifications and to identify hiring risks. HR consultants can do a variety of employment screening for you such as address history, SSN verification, county and state criminal records and the sexual offender registry.
Try: For a list and description of the types of screens and background tests to consider, go to IntelliCorp.

Employee development

Employee development programs and processes are designed to improve employee performance once he or she is on the job. The three basic aspects that most HR consultants offer include training (activities that enhance the employee's ability to do his or her current job), education (programs that focus on future opportunities) and development (on-the-job activities that increase the scope of an employee's capabilities and are not classroom- based).
Try: Go to gNeil for a review of some of the types of training businesses purchase from HR consultants.

Workforce management

There's a wide variety of human resource tasks that are completed in most organizations and should be automated to save time and money. HR consultants can help with the processes referred to as workforce management, which include things such as as time and attendance, scheduling, absence management and payroll.
Try: Kronos offers a description of the various programs to consider automating.

Salary administration

Salary administration is often referred to as compensation and is the method for ensuring that employees are paid appropriately for the work they do. A salary administration program can be built by an HR consultant and should be equitable (similar employees are paid equally) and competitive (as good as comparable organizations).
Try: For the steps to consider when building a compensation and salary administration program, go to Compensation Resources. For a list of the elements to consider in a compensation software program, visit Decusoft.

Compliance

There are state and federal regulations that each business is required to follow in order to employ people; this is referred to as "compliance." An HR audit conducted by an HR consultant is a method for discovering what HR programs and processes need to be developed to ensure that a business does not have unlawful or ineffective HR policies, procedures and practices. After conducting an HR audit, businesses will also need to make sure employees in the organization are trained in these programs to maintain the highest level of business ethics.
Try: Factors that should be included in an HR audit can be found at Laurdan Associates. For a list of compliance training programs to consider, go to WeComply.