Comstock's Magazine 0720 JULY July 2020 | Page 22

EVIL HR LADY DILEMMA OF THE MONTH Why Startups Need HR Help Before They Launch BY Suzanne Lucas ILLUSTRATION: JOHN CHASE I’m launching my own company this year, with about 12 employees, and I’m thinking about the importance of human resources services. Should I hire someone for that position, or can I use an outside service or an online site? And what are the most important things I should do before I launch? You’re brilliant. How do I know this? Because you’re thinking about human resources before you launch your company instead of waiting until you have a big problem. It’s always easier to start with a good, solid HR plan than to throw one together the first time you have an issue. You probably don’t need to hire a full-time HR person if you’re planning on 12 employees. You might want to hire someone part time, but most likely you can hire a consultant or an HR outsourcing company. If your business will require people working on-site — rather than 12 telecommuters — then hire a local person. That way, if you need an HR person for difficult conversations, the consultant can come in. Plus, a lot of HR policies and procedures depend on local laws, so you will want a California HR specialist. California has lots of different rules. Here are the things you’ll want to do before you launch. Think about benefits You’ll want to offer excellent health benefits, so talk with brokers about what is and is not reasonable. You may feel a bit woozy when you first see the numbers, so be prepared. Check out what your competitors do and what you can reasonably afford. Then think about sick and vacation time. Federal law doesn’t require vacation or holiday time, so you’re free to do what you want. But California con- 22 comstocksmag.com | July 2020