TEL Staffing & HR Blog

9 Signs It's Time to Outsource Your HR

Written by TEL | July 2024

HR is a critical challenge businesses must adapt to and manage to keep their business operational and scale with growth. However, in many cases, shedding critical tasks by outsourcing them can significantly lower the burden and risk – making the basic facets of running your business your sole priority.

In this post, we’ll discuss nine signs that you can use to determine whether your business would benefit from outsourcing HR.

Signs It’s Time to Outsource HR

Human Resources (HR) management is one of the most essential, yet complex, facets of running a business. For small to mid-size businesses, managing HR functions in-house can quickly become overwhelming. The administrative burden, compliance requirements, and the need for specialized expertise can strain internal resources and hinder growth.

Let’s take a look at how you can tell outsourcing HR might be the right move for your organization.

Administrative Burden is Increasing

When your team spends more time on HR tasks than focusing on strategic business goals, it's a clear sign that HR outsourcing might be beneficial. The administrative workload of HR can be incredibly time-consuming. Tasks such as payroll processing, benefits administration, and employee record-keeping can take up a substantial amount of your team's time.

In small to mid-size businesses, every hour spent on administrative tasks is an hour not spent on growth-oriented activities. By outsourcing these tasks to a professional HR firm, your team can concentrate on driving business success.

Professional HR firms have the tools and systems in place to handle these tasks efficiently. This leads to improved accuracy and compliance and reduces the risk of costly errors.

It’s a Challenge to Keep Up with Compliance

Frequent challenges in keeping up with ever-changing labor laws and regulations indicate the need for professional HR expertise. Compliance is a critical aspect of HR management, and non-compliance can result in severe penalties and legal issues.

Staying updated with federal, state, and local employment laws requires continuous monitoring and expertise – which can be a daunting task for businesses. An HR partner can ensure that your business remains compliant, mitigating the risk of fines and legal complications.

Outsourced HR firms offer specialized knowledge in employment law, helping your business stay ahead of regulatory changes and protecting your business from compliance-related risks.

Growing Business Needs

Rapid business growth or expansion often necessitates scalable HR solutions that companies might struggle to provide. Growth brings new challenges, from hiring additional staff to managing increased HR demands.

When your business is expanding, the HR department must scale accordingly. However, internal HR teams may lack the resources or expertise to handle rapid growth effectively. Outsourcing HR functions can provide the necessary scalability to support your business's growth trajectory.

Professional HR firms offer flexible solutions that can adapt to your business's changing needs. Their expertise in managing growth-related HR challenges ensures that your business can expand smoothly.

Recurring Issues with Turnover

Persistent issues with employee retention and satisfaction can be a sign that your HR processes need improvement from external specialists. High turnover rates can disrupt business operations, increase recruitment costs, and negatively impact employee morale.

Addressing turnover issues requires a deep understanding of employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention strategies. Your HR partner can share advice and guide companies toward creating positive work environments that foster employee loyalty and reduce turnover.

These firms can conduct employee surveys, analyze feedback, and implement effective retention strategies. By improving employee satisfaction, outsourced HR can help your business build a dedicated and motivated workforce.

Recruitment is Too Complex

Difficulty attracting, screening, and hiring qualified talent suggests your company could benefit from the streamlined recruitment strategies HR firms can achieve. Recruitment is a critical function that directly impacts your business's success.

Finding the right candidates requires extensive time, effort, and expertise. For small to mid-size businesses, managing the entire recruitment process in-house can be challenging because it detracts from people’s ability to manage tasks. Outsourcing recruitment to professional HR firms can streamline the hiring process and improve the quality of hires.

HR firms use advanced recruitment technologies and strategies to identify top talent. Their vast networks and industry knowledge enable them to attract and retain the best candidates for your business.

Inadequate HR Expertise

If your current HR team lacks the necessary skills or knowledge to handle complex HR issues, outsourcing can bring in the required expertise. HR management encompasses a wide range of functions, from compliance and benefits administration to employee relations and performance management.

In smaller businesses, HR teams may lack specialized knowledge in certain areas. Outsourcing HR functions can provide access to a team of experts with diverse skills and experience, ensuring that all HR functions are managed professionally and effectively.

You’re Spending Too Much on HR

Spending too much on HR without seeing proportional benefits is a sign that outsourcing might be more cost-effective by giving you access to better healthcare and retirement benefits. They can provide critical support to your internal team, helping them handle their tasks and focus on supporting your staff.

For small to mid-size businesses, these costs can be significant. HR firms operate on economies of scale, allowing them to offer cost-effective solutions for your business. It can help you allocate resources more efficiently and focus on areas that drive business growth.

Difficulty Scaling Your Business

Struggling to adjust HR processes during periods of growth or downsizing indicates a need for flexible and scalable HR solutions. Business environments are dynamic, and HR functions must adapt to changing needs.

Internal HR teams may find it challenging to scale processes efficiently. Outsourced HR providers offer flexible solutions that can adjust to your business's requirements. Whether you're expanding or downsizing, outsourced HR can provide the necessary support so you can adjust your number of employees and benefits just by reaching out to your HR partner.

Risk Management Issues

The risk of compliance-related legal issues and fines starts as soon as you hire your first employee. Risk management is a critical aspect of HR, with significant implications for your business's legal and financial health.

Non-compliance with employment laws, inadequate employee relations, and ineffective performance management – even accidentally – can lead to costly legal issues. Outsourced HR firms specialize in risk management, ensuring that your business remains compliant and protected.

These firms conduct regular audits, provide legal counsel, and implement best practices to mitigate risks, taking a proactive approach to safeguard your business from potential legal complications.

Manage Your HR with TEL

At TEL, we understand the challenges businesses face in managing HR functions. Our team of experts offers comprehensive HR solutions tailored to your business's unique needs.

Our goal is to help your business thrive by providing professional HR management that enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and mitigates risks. Partner with TEL and experience the benefits of outsourced HR firsthand.

Discover how TEL can transform your HR functions and support your business's success. Contact us today to learn more.