FAQ

Who is HRfx?

As a group, we can offer a full range of HR related services. We are a team of five (5) human resource professionals with diverse backgrounds, experience, and HR related designations (CHRP, PHR, GPHR, HRMP, COC). Having been in business for over 5 years, we are an established team that will be here when you need HR support.

Our approach is to work with our client’s team to ensure they have the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions. We believe HR is a critical component to any successful organization and it is the people within the company that make the difference. We are direct in dealing with employment related issues, assessing the risks, understanding the operational needs, and then provide alternatives for consideration, along with a recommended course of action.

How many employees should a company have in order to need professional Human Resource (HR) services?

Depending on your business, the skill set of your managers and supervisors, and the complexity of the HR needs of your business, just having 1 employee may obligate you to comply with certain legislation. Our team works with clients that range from 1 to 2,000 employees, with most clients between 10 and 200 employees.

What is the cost for an initial discussion or visit with an HRfx Advisor?

Free. We need to get to know your business and you can get to know us. The first visit is an exploratory session to assess your HR needs. Based on the results of the visit, we would submit a project scope and proposal to you if you had an interest in establishing an ongoing relationship.

How much do your services cost?

It depends. The size of your organization, what current HR resources you have and/or need and then as your company’s size fluctuates up or down, the relationship can expand and condense as well.

In order to cater to each individual business, HRfx offers multiple disbursement options. Depending on the type of work and the financial ease to our clients, we offer the following methods:

Hourly. Often used for short term, unspecific projects, or last minute issues. We charge for the time we work for you. We also offer prepaid hours purchased in bulk (ie: 20 or 40 hours) at a discounted rate.

Retainer. Our most common relationship with our clients, where we provide HR as needed, with an outline as to the specific services we will be delivering, and a proactive plan to address common recurring issues. This is particularly popular for servicing HR issues as they come up. Our retainer option would provide a guaranteed presence for all your HR concerns for a specified time frame.

Fixed value projects. When a client has a specific project, we can provide a scope of the project, along with a specific fixed price, based on the estimated hours involved. This provides our client with the peace of mind of knowing what they will be paying in advance.

Recruitment Process Outsourcing. Not headhunting, but streamlining your recruitment process. We become your internal HR team, posting positions, screening applications, getting you the right candidates to see. Fees are as little as 5% of annual salary with some adjustment depending on the role, job profile and locations.

Why can’t my Controller or Office Manager do what you do?

We often see HR fall under another function within smaller organizations. I always say, you wouldn’t have HR do your accounting, so why would accounting do your HR, but I get why. Resources can be limited. The truth of the matter is that any person with a good HR background and experience, and who actively engages in continuing education including changes in provincial and federal laws, can do HR. Realistically, does a Controller or Office Manager have the time or the interest to stay current in the HR profession and perform his/her other responsibilities on a daily basis?

How will I know when it is more cost effective to hire my own in-house HR Manager?

As a rule of thumb, if you get over 100 employees then it is time to consider hiring your own full-time HR Manager. Less than that, we can help understand your HR issues and opportunities and help you get the right person in place.

Our company is too small to need HR help

Do you have employees? Then you should have some HR structure. We have found that our smaller clients are often most susceptible and have the least room for error. We have an established track record of helping small companies address the unknown challenges of HR.

The time you spend on HR could be spent elsewhere building your company’s sales and revenues. In fact, if you spend one hour of your time searching for the right HR form, an acceptable discrimination policy, an interview guide, or finding the answers, then you are already spending too much on HR and not enough on developing your business.

Why do I need HR help? We do our own hiring, payroll and benefits.

HR is more than just hiring, payroll, benefits and firing. It’s the full employment cycle and helping get the most out of what is often a company’s largest variable expense while protecting the company’s assets.

HR is often perceived a “necessary evil” of doing business. It’s also not their idea of “time well spent”. Unfortunately, there are some significant and unintentional costs that you as a business owner or manager that you can easily avoid. And, as a leader, you want your employees to be engaged and productive, which requires putting appropriate policies in place, ensuring that their environment is positive, and, quite frankly, understanding your rights and responsibilities.

When it comes to recruiting, are you a (temporary or permanent) placement agency or a headhunting firm?

No. Both fields are well served with excellent companies that specialize in those areas. What we do is called recruitment process outsourcing, where we become your HR team.

To illustrate, we do not carry a database of registered and pre-screened clients to match the closest client in the database to the employer’s needs. Our business practice is to ensure that we promote the employer’s opening to a wide range of potential candidates in order to attract individuals who are specifically qualified for the employer’s position(s). Additionally, we offer other HR services to assist employers with the actual employee management function, while many placement agencies specialize only in the employee recruitment function.

In providing your HR services, do you carry out the actual work for the employer, or do you simply inform and coach employers on best practices for doing the work themselves?

We do both and how we do it will depend on what the employer is looking for and what specific area of HR the employer is requiring assistance with. Our goal is to help businesses get better in the long run, and to do that, their management team needs to know what to do and when, but also when to look for help.

We do work with companies all across the country so our services are set up to be delivered via email, phone, Skype or in person.

 
 

Recently, an employee gave two weeks’ notice at the same time I was leaving for vacation. I contacted HRfx and provided them all the details to start the RPO process. When I returned after two weeks, I had several candidates to interview and I hired a great applicant from the short list that was given to me.
The HRfx team removed the stress off my plate and I could enjoy my vacation.

Nic Marples, Ocean Park Mechanical