Marie Carasco - The Essential HR Guide for Small Businesses and Startups: Best Practices, Tools, Examples, and Online Resources

Copyright 2020 Carasco and Rothwell. All rights reserved.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Carasco, Marie, author. | Rothwell, William J., 1951- author.

Title: The essential HR guide for small businesses and startups : best practices, tools, examples, and online resources / Marie Carasco, William J. Rothwell.

Description: Alexandria : Society for Human Resource Management, 2020. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019053057 | ISBN 9781586445898 (paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Small business--Management. | New business enterprises--Management. | Personnel management.

Classification: LCC HD62.7 .C3547 2020 | DDC 658.3--dc23

Printed in the United States of America

PB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

61.19305

Marie Carasco dedicates this book to her family, mentors, and friends, both old and new. Especially those whove loved and valued her presence.

William J. Rothwell dedicates this book to his wife, Marcelina V. Rothwell. She is the wind beneath his wings.

P ART I
HR F UNDAMENTALS FOR S TARTUP AND E ARLY S TAGE B USINESSES

Chapter 1
Talent

Chapter 2
Compensation

Chapter 3
The Soft Side

P ART II
L EGAL AND W ORKFORCE P LANNING FOR G ROWTH S TAGE B USINESSES

CHAPTER 4
Legal

CHAPTER 5
Planning for the Future (Assuming You Survive the Now)

P ART I
HR F UNDAMENTALS FOR S TARTUP AND E ARLY S TAGE B USINESSES

Chapter 1
Talent

Chapter 2
Compensation

Chapter 3
The Soft Side

P ART II
L EGAL AND W ORKFORCE P LANNING FOR G ROWTH S TAGE B USINESSES

CHAPTER 4
Legal

CHAPTER 5
Planning for the Future (Assuming You Survive the Now)

FIGURES

TABLES

EXHIBITS

T he reality for several entrepreneurs when they set out to start their business is they may not have the network, financial resources, and/or some of the professional skills necessary to launch, operate, and/or grow the business. They start their companies with a dream and a passion for what they believe is a good idea, service, or product. They learn how to manage and operate their business by way of trial by fire. That process may lead to costly mistakes. The hope is that at some point during their journey, someone or something has the answers to help. The Essential HR Guide for Small Businesses and Startups is the ideal book for startups and small businesses who have identified the importance of people to their company.

One of the keys to success in any organization, whether it be a startup, an existing small business, or a growth phased business, is having good people at every level. As a member of the advisory committee involved in shaping the content of this book, this resource has become increasingly important because it provides essential guidance and solutions to the often-unanswered questions posed by business owners related to human resource management. For the past 20 years, my professional life has been immersed in the world of entrepreneurship, from educating, consulting, and working for small business owners, to launching companies of my own. Over the years, the topic of human resource management has been a Pandoras box. Many new entrepreneurs and experienced business owners have not embraced or grasped the concepts in human resource management. For some, its compliance. For others, its the process of hiring people and managing payroll. However, these and other related human resource topics are areas of the business where an entrepreneur, small business owner, or manager will not find the answers they need from an Internet search.

First, talent or human capital is interwoven throughout the entire organization, and without understanding the big picture, any single approach can send ripple effects through the company. Second, no two companies are exactly the same, and the dynamics of acquiring, training, developing, retaining, and managing people are skills that not only need to be obtained and developed, but also tailored. Before an entrepreneur can expect employees to share and connect to the vision and mission of their business, they will need to understand how to do so. The Essential HR Guide for Small Businesses and Startups will help lay a foundational understanding of how to attract, compensate, manage, and train your current and future talent, as well as how to align employees with the overall goals of your company using practical tools you can implement immediately.

The Essential HR Guide for Small Businesses and Startups should be read by anyone in a position to recruit, hire, manage, and/or promote talent in a startup, early stage, or small business. This includes founders, business owners, middle management, senior managers, HR officers, or those with HR responsibilities. This book is especially valuable to those with limited experience with HR, have few resources, and are seeking to build and grow their organization responsibly using proven methods, tactics, and tools to structure and manage human capital in their business.