The H.R. Guy Talks HR, Company Culture, and Avoiding Lawsuits
4 December 2024
HR processes for the Trades - what every business needs to know, from the H.R. Guy
BPC's owner, Ian "H.R. Guy" Schotanus, recently featured with Tim Hook on the Plumbing & HVAC Hustle Podcast to discuss the big issues of HR in the Trades. Check out the video
for the full discussion. Here are a couple key highlights:
What question is most frequently asked of The H.R. Guy?
- Typically it's "How do I fire this person (for lack of performance, not showing up, etc.) without getting sued?" Quick tip: it comes down to communication.
How much info should leadership share with employees who are being let go?
- You want to give at least a little explanation or employees will invent their own reason (which will never reflect well on the business), but you don't need to engage in a long discussion. Quick tip: Use the line "At-will separation for failure to meet performance/attendance/attitude expectations."
How should companies address drug/alcohol use?
- While employers can use personal preferences in deciding how to interpret pre-hire drug tests, there are still basic laws to follow: you can't drive a company vehicle while under the influence of ANYTHING, regardless of company policies. Quick tip: Make it clear what's okay "on your own time" and what's never okay at work. And don't get actively drunk while hanging out with your employees!
How do you address the fact that "on the job site, there are different rules" for behavior, joking, and ribbing among Blue Collar workers... but these same things could be interpreted as offensive or even harassment in other contexts?
- This ambiguity is one of the reasons most HR firms avoid working with the Trades! Quick tip: Help employees to better understand each other by having EVERYONE do a ride-along when they join the company. When office staff understand what happens in the field, and field staff shadow CSRs/dispatch to observe their role, everyone has a better relationship, makes a more cohesive team, and gives more grace for outbursts that might be borderline.
There's so much more to HR for the Trades than these quick takes, including how The Big Picture Consulting can help you keep more of the revenue/profits you're working so hard to earn! Check out the video for more.
A guide to the types of employee drug testing: Pre-Employment, Post-Accident, Random Selection, and Reasonable Suspicion.
Employees can be your greatest asset... or your biggest frustration. When issues come up, here are some steps to make sure you respond appropriately instead of just reacting from emotions. Trust us, you'll get much better results this way.
Hold your employees to the standard of being PROFESSIONAL representatives of the Trades, not just technical experts, and you greatly minimize the risk of getting hit with an EEOC settlement. Here's why.
Written warnings can be key in managing employees, so you need to know both the art and the science of doing them correctly. These tips for what to include - and what NOT to include - in your written warnings will help you to communicate clearly to your employees, and get you set to defend yourself in a potential legal claim against you.
You need a strong Brand and good company culture to attract - and keep - the best employees. Here are some tips for how to showcase your home service company as a great place to work and take the first step towards successful recruiting.
From Labor Law Posters to Safety Manuals – everything your staff needs to boost compliance and morale, in one dedicated spot. Having an up-to-date and complete Employee Resource Center will give you the peace of mind to run your business without worrying about compliance.
Reasonable Accommodations in the workplace are no joke - you can get into serious legal trouble if you don't comply with the ADA. Yet here's a case study on a company who terminated someone for an issue directly related to their disability and was not held legally liable. Check out the details of how this might apply to your business.
Home services companies might be tempted to classify workers as independent contractors, but we STRONGLY advise you to hire them as W-2 workers instead. And it's not just because the government might fine you (big time!). Read more for tips on why it'll be in your company's best interest.
Listen to The H.R. Guy explaining the nuances of HR for the Trades in 2025, with tips on common HR pitfalls and how to avoid them, the value of Stay Interviews, key mistakes with performance pay, and the ultimate goal of "Representing the Brand."
You thought you were rid of that toxic employee, but now he's causing you even more problems - posting negative Google reviews and refusing to return company property. Why is this happening?