Preparing Your Business for Growth

The past several months continue to make history with unemployment reaching an all-time high.  However, with businesses being able to open back up, many will be in need to begin to ramp up their manpower.  Having a plan of action will be crucial to seamlessly add the right team members to fit into the current culture of your company.

Needs might include customer service, shipping, accounting or other positions. Part of the challenge of adding employees is ensuring that all are trained and ready to perform in a timely manner keeping your customer service index at an acceptable level. A proper ramp-up period will give you time to make sure adequate training is covered.

It’s imperative to find the right talent at the right time.  If your strategy includes several phases, each of those phases may have different personnel requirements. For example, you may have an early ramp-up phase where you need to raise production to accommodate a new client. Your HR department may look ahead and realize that after ramp-up you won't need additional production employees any longer. HR may decide to use temporary personnel to support your ramping-up strategy. Such considerations may apply to each phase of your strategy from production to marketing.

Business acumen is much more important to the success of your strategy than specific skill sets.  This means HR can become a strategic partner by shopping for talent that has business know-how and then providing training to develop specific skills. This training can be tailored to your strategy. For example, if you know your strategy will require thorough knowledge of cash-flow principles, you can instruct HR to hire people with a strong business background and develop cash-flow training courses for those people.

Being sure to identify key positions will keep you in front of potential challenges.  You can look ahead as you examine your strategy to see what managers you will need to have in place. For example, an initiative to boost sales may require several managers who work under your sales manager, as well as an executive in charge of marketing. HR can begin looking for these key players long before the need for them arises. This approach aligns HR strategy with your company strategy.

If your strategy involves looking for new ideas, HR will have to search for people who have a history of innovation. On the other hand, if your strategy is based on an innovative idea you've already embraced, HR will have to focus on finding people who are adept at turning ideas into practical action steps. By carefully defining this need, you notify HR of the type of employee you will need. This coordinates HR's approach with your company needs.

Creating a consistent two-way communication with your employees to become aware of situations and create mutual trust and confidence.  Having a professional team to help lead the conversation guiding your employees to understanding and embracing their opportunities will be key to success.

Questco is there to help you rebuild your labor force through a plethora of HR Services such as: Payroll Services, Benefit Plans, Benefits Administration, HR Technology and Workers’ Comp & Safety Services.

Charlie Reeves, Senior Business Development Manager, has decades of experience in Human Resource Solutions.  He is one of the most senior members at Questco and recognized for helping clients of all sizes save money, improve labor efficiency and provide the strongest support for HR Services.  As an entrepreneurs himself, he has lived the long days and sleepless nights on the road to success.  He brings the skill and scale to support you in the pursuit of your goals.  For more information on payroll services, benefit plans, benefits administration, HR technology, workers’ comp and safety services email Charlie.Reeves@questco.net or contact him directly at 936.521.5841.

Keeping Your Employees Safe Once Businesses Open Up

As the government starts looking for ways to open the economy back up they will have to be in a great position to make sure they are keeping their employees as well as customers safe.  A common acronym that will be thrown around in today’s environment is PPE which means Personal Protection Equipment.

Today it is COVID-19, but tomorrow it will be something else.  As many business have experienced, if they are not deemed safe to work than they will face having to close for whatever duration government dictates and be susceptible to fines if they are not in compliance.

Therefore it is important to find companies like Apache Commodities.    They sell to large medical institutions and other government entities, but also make sure that the General Public can safely purchase items that the FDA and CDC are recommending everyone to have.  They are looking out for the small business trying to help them open up as well.  You can instantly find the products you need by visiting https://www.apachecommodities.com and have your products delivered within 5-7 days.

Your company will want to make sure it is supplied with digital infrared thermometers, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, appropriate mask and gloves.  Other items such as face shields, gown, COVID-19 Testing kits might make sense for your company to have on hand as well.

Questco partners with companies to reduce and solve problems in the areas of human resources, workers comp, risk management, employee benefits, payroll and consulting.

Through this partnership companies see an Increase Profitability, Maximization of Productivity, Reduction of Liability and time spend on transactional HR and affords them the ability of Providing Fortune 500 Benefits that otherwise they would not have access too.

The unknown is frightening.  When your company partners with Questco you’re choosing to work with a human resources partner that isn’t just outstanding based on its own opinion–but objectively rated by the most brutally-objective evaluators – the satisfaction of their customers.  Your business has thrived because you and your team have been committed to the success of your customers. As your business grows or faces the task of rebuilding, the complexity and burden grows as well. Keeping up with HR responsibilities can become expensive, time-consuming, and even overwhelming.

The good news is that things will get better.  When they do, Questco is there to help you rebuild your labor force through a plethora of HR Services such as: Payroll Services, Benefit Plans, Benefits Administration, HR Technology and Workers’ Comp & Safety Services.

Charlie Reeves, Senior Business Development Manager, has decades of experience in Human Resource Solutions.  He is one of the most senior members at Questco and recognized for helping clients of all sizes save money, improve labor efficiency and provide the strongest support for HR Services.  As an entrepreneurs himself, he has lived the long days and sleepless nights on the road to success.  He brings the skill and scale to support you in the pursuit of your goals.  For more information on payroll services, benefit plans, benefits administration, HR technology, workers’ comp and safety services email Charlie.Reeves@questco.net or contact him directly at 936.521.5841.

Questco can help during a Recession

As unemployment in Texas continues to rise many businesses will and have already succumb to the pressures of sustaining workforce costs amidst diminishing revenues.  More than 75 percent of employers manage during a recession by cutting out holiday bonuses, scaling back on wage increases or conducting layoffs.

Companies committed to surviving a recession have an obligation to their employees. Their human resources departments play an integral role in reassuring employees about matters such as job security, earnings and the company's strategic direction.

Questco partners with companies to reduce and solve problems in the areas of human resources, workers comp, risk management, employee benefits and payroll.

Through this partnership companies see an Increase Profitability, Maximization of Productivity, Reduction of Liability and time spend on transactional HR and affords them the ability of Providing Fortune 500 Benefits that otherwise they would not have access too.

The role of HR is to build employees' trust in leadership through honest, effective and frequent communication, regardless of the circumstances. One of the reasons employees report leaving their jobs is that they lose trust in company leadership.  When HR or company leadership neglects communication, the result is that employers risk their employees losing confidence in them. During a recession, it's all that more important to communicate and build employees' trust.

If the company is recession-proof, meaning it provides necessary products or services, the role of HR is to remind employees that the company is forging ahead despite an economic meltdown. As the saying goes, the only sure things in life are death and taxes; therefore, the most recession-proof businesses are likely mortuaries and accounting firms. On the other hand, if the company will be affected by a recession, HR's role is to assist company leaders in describing the business strategy for staying afloat and keeping employees apprised of the company's status and direction.

The unknown is frightening.  When your company partners with Questco you’re choosing to work with a human resources partner that isn’t just outstanding based on its own opinion–but objectively rated by the most brutally-objective evaluators – the satisfaction of their customers.  Your business has thrived because you and your team have been committed to the success of your customers. As your business grows or faces the task of rebuilding, the complexity and burden grows as well. Keeping up with HR responsibilities can become expensive, time-consuming, and even overwhelming.

During a recession, employers may be inclined to offer overtime hours instead of hiring new workers. The cost-benefit factor is that hiring new employees costs more money than paying overtime wages to current employees. Therefore, some employees may welcome the opportunity to increase their paychecks. In either case, HR's role is to assure employees that their jobs are safe. If employees' jobs are at stake, HR should explain what process the company will use to notify employees of layoffs, whether they will receive severance or early retirement opportunities and the timing of potential layoffs.

An estimated 40 percent of employees live paycheck to paycheck, according to Best. The minute people in this situation hear they are losing their job, anxiety about bills sets in. Questco can help by offering a prepared list of resources for the unemployed.  During a recession, employees' pay might not go as far as it would during an economic recovery. Therefore, HR should provide employees with options for increasing their take-home pay. Options might include adjusting withholding allowances, reducing contributions to their savings accounts or re-evaluating their health plan choices. HR also should counsel employees on additional ways to reduce payroll deductions, such as suspending payroll deductions that some employees elect to donate to charitable foundations.

The good news is that things will get better.  When they do, Questco is there to help you rebuild your labor force through a plethora of HR Services such as: Payroll Services, Benefit Plans, Benefits Administration, HR Technology and Workers’ Comp & Safety Services.

Charlie Reeves, Senior Business Development Manager, has decades of experience in Human Resource Solutions.  He is one of the most senior members at Questco and recognized for helping clients of all sizes save money, improve labor efficiency and provide the strongest support for HR Services.  As an entrepreneurs himself, he has lived the long days and sleepless nights on the road to success.  He brings the skill and scale to support you in the pursuit of your goals.  For more information on payroll services, benefit plans, benefits administration, HR technology, workers’ comp and safety services email Charlie.Reeves@questco.net or contact him directly at 936.521.5841.

Navigating Human Resource Services during COVID-19

There is no question that we are in unchartered territory with all of the massive layoffs taking place in Texas.  Claims for unemployment are reaching historic levels and systems are overwhelmed, laid-off workers are frustrated and anxiety is mounting.  Now more than ever, businesses, especially those who have to streamline their operations need sound advice and expertise.

Questco partners with companies to reduce and solve problems in the areas of human resources, workers comp, risk management, employee benefits and payroll.

Through this partnership companies see an Increase Profitability, Maximization of Productivity, Reduction of Liability and time spend on transactional HR and affords them the ability of Providing Fortune 500 Benefits that otherwise they would not have access too.

The unknown is frightening.  When your company partners with Questco you’re choosing to work with a human resources partner that isn’t just outstanding based on its own opinion–but objectively rated by the most brutally-objective evaluators – the satisfaction of their customers.  Your business has thrived because you and your team have been committed to the success of your customers. As your business grows or faces the task of rebuilding, the complexity and burden grows as well. Keeping up with HR responsibilities can become expensive, time-consuming, and even overwhelming.

An estimated 40 percent of employees live paycheck to paycheck, according to Best. The minute people in this situation hear they are losing their job, anxiety about bills sets in. Questco can help by offering a prepared list of resources for the unemployed.

The reason for these layoffs is unprecedented, and having a partner by your side during these chaotic times is important for your business.  By being well versed in the facts, business leaders can play a critical role in soothing employees’ concerns, modeling healthy behaviors and keeping their workplaces relatively productive – all while not running afoul of related laws and regulations.

The good news is that things will get better.  When they do, Questco is there to help you rebuild your labor force through a plethora of HR Services such as: Payroll Services, Benefit Plans, Benefits Administration, HR Technology and Workers’ Comp & Safety Services.

Because public health conditions can change rapidly, it’s critical for employers to know:

• ·         How to help protect employees and customers
• ·         How to continue business operations during a pandemic
• ·         How to rely on official sources to stay informed
• ·         How to manage and mitigate organizational risks
• ·         How to navigate potential legal issues that may arise

Charlie Reeves, Senior Business Development Manager, has decades of experience in Human Resource Solutions.  He is one of the most senior members at Questco and recognized for helping clients of all sizes save money, improve labor efficiency and provide the strongest support for HR Services.  As an entrepreneurs himself, he has lived the long days and sleepless nights on the road to success.  He brings the skill and scale to support you in the pursuit of your goals.  For more information on payroll services, benefit plans, benefits administration, HR technology, workers’ comp and safety services email Charlie.Reeves@questco.net or contact him directly at 936.521.5841.