| Out of the blue in addition to your other responsibilities | | | | you can purchase to address your training needs as a |
| you've been placed in charge of Human Resources. | | | | whole as well as the needs of individuals within the |
| This happens within many small businesses as they | | | | organization, but as a newbie Human Resources |
| begin to grow. Someone is given a title, perhaps with a | | | | Director, I would recommend you simply meet with |
| remark, "I know you will do well." Don't panic. You are | | | | your fellow employees and brainstorm about training |
| not alone. And luckily there are resources available to | | | | and education needs. The more you communicate |
| you . . . and you probably will do well.You need to take | | | | with your employees, the better understanding you will |
| Human Resources seriously, but not to the point that it | | | | develop with them about their abilities.Possibly the best |
| immobilizes you like a deer in the headlights of an | | | | place to start in training are the areas of team building |
| oncoming car. As you gather your wits about you and | | | | and communications. If your organization isn't working |
| begin making plans, there are two main areas you | | | | as a team you make management harder and if |
| should be aware of: legal issues and improving your | | | | communications isn't working you make most aspects |
| workforce. Actually, consider the two main areas plus | | | | of working together almost impossible.Training videos |
| the budget. The longer you are involved with HR the | | | | may run between a few hundred dollars up to a |
| more you'll know, and since there are roughly four | | | | thousand dollars or more. Many of the John Cleese |
| dozen HR categories for training, you need to realize | | | | business training tapes cost about $870, while Jamie |
| there are many things to learn, but as a beginner there | | | | Oliver's new tapes (of the Food Channel) run a little |
| are only few basics you need to cover.Legal | | | | over a thousand dollars to purchase. Renting is an |
| Issues:Hiring and FiringRespectful Workplace: | | | | option, but I follow the "better to own the cow" |
| Harassment - Disabilities - DiversityImproving Your | | | | philosphy. The John Cleese videos use lots of humor |
| Workforce:Management/LeadershipTeam | | | | to illustrate their points and Jamie Oliver is really |
| BuildingCommunicationsCustomer ServiceLearning | | | | popular, so both of these factors make these training |
| more about legal issues will protect you and your | | | | videos well worth the money.There are more |
| organization. This is the best place to start. When hiring | | | | economic tools available, however. There are |
| and firing there are some things you can do and some | | | | pre-packaged workshops for off-the-shelf training that |
| things you can't do. There are training videos that will | | | | contain scripts, handouts, and overheads (all on |
| take you step by step through the interview process | | | | reproducible .pdf formated files) AND an illustrative |
| for hiring, so you hire a person that meets your | | | | video accompanies the presentation all for less than |
| qualifications. One of the best training videos for this is | | | | $400. You can adapt the script for presenting a half |
| a product called More Than a Gut Feeling. This | | | | day workshop or as much as a two day workshop. |
| program has been around for years and has been | | | | You can put the workshop instantly into your schedule |
| updated repeatedly. The video comes with a training | | | | and then bring it back for review (and new |
| guide as well as a the book, More Than a Gut | | | | employees) a year or two later. And, of course the |
| Feeling.Training points from the package include:How to | | | | second time you use the package, there is no |
| plan a logical, structured interview that includes | | | | additional charge.You can also purchase three-ring |
| pre-planned interview questionsHow to use | | | | binders which contain simple activities, which can be |
| interviewing techniques that allow for interviewer | | | | used time and time again. Activity collections are |
| controlHow to recognize why some questions cannot | | | | available for many HR training categories and cost |
| be legally asked in the interview processAs you can | | | | around $140.I recommend you plan a budget that |
| see, the package gives you a good baseline of | | | | enables you to begin stocking a library of products. |
| information to help you select the best candidate and it | | | | You can add to them and share them with fellow |
| also gives you information about the kind of questions | | | | workers and managers. As you share programs and |
| you shouldn't be asking. Before you begin firing anyone, | | | | your desire you improve your organization you should |
| you should also take a look at legal issues in firing as | | | | be able to find fellow employees that will help and |
| well, but hiring will probably be your first need.Every | | | | assist you.You can start off your Human Resources |
| worker has the right to expect that they will work in a | | | | career by initiating your own training programs, by hiring |
| safe and respectful workplace. This is why each | | | | HR trainers to come in an consult with you and |
| organization has the obligation to be aware of | | | | possibly run programs that you can run the next time |
| problems with harassment (harassment, sexual | | | | around, or by hiring professionals at each level of |
| harassment, and workplace bullying), the ADA | | | | training. The needs of the employees and your budget |
| (American's With Disabilities Act), and the acceptance | | | | should be your guiding light.Human Resources should |
| of diversity. A policy encompassing workplace violence | | | | be both fun and challenging. Enjoy.Author Don Doman: |
| and harassment prevention along with respectful | | | | Don is a published author of books for small business, |
| treatment is a must. There are many products to help | | | | corporate video producer, and owner of Ideas and |
| you develop your own policy manual and many even | | | | Training ( which provides business training products. |
| come with blank form for you to fill out.Once the legal | | | | Don also owns and Human Resources Radio ( which |
| aspects of employment have been addressed, you | | | | provides business training programs and previews |
| can move into training. There are special assessments | | | | 24-hours a day. |