Worryingly, three-quarters of owner-managers say that new business development and customer service is suffering because of the HR burden. New research by HR software specialist Croner reveals that one in ten MDs are spending up to 15 hours, or two days, a week on HR – too much in the eyes of many. “Without a doubt, HR is becoming more burdensome for UK businesses large and small,” says Michael Page, commercial product manager at Sage’s small business division. “Compliance and regulation in this area has increased dramatically in the past few years and is now one of the major pain points according to our customers.” The difficulty with HR is that if you get it wrong, it can be expensive. The appropriate processes have to be followed, says Richard Smith, head of service development at Croner. “Too many key people in SMEs end spending a lot of time, effort and money sorting out HR problems. But what’s tricky is that you can’t just ignore HR regulation, you have to deal with it.” Simon Ball, CEO of Coverzones, the small business insurance portal, says that claims that the government has lowered the burden of red tape are “nonsense”. “Dealing with time-consuming red-tape is something which can make or break a business. But for each process that’s been taken away, the government’s managed to match it with the introduction of additional bureaucracy.” Not all entrepreneurs are against red-tape, however, with some viewing it as a necessary evil. “Human resources is a hideous phrase – it makes it sound anything but human. But the truth is, as an owner and MD, my company’s entire success depends on people. I’d be bonkers not to spend as much time on them as I possibly could,” says Martin Hennessey, founder of The Writer, a business writing consultancy. “Is regulation a pain? Hell yes. But is it, on balance, a good thing for my business? I believe so.” Related articles:Karen Patterson: Mover. Shaker. InnovatorGetting the most from your staff Picture source
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.