The HR Guy on Torsion Talk
20 December 2022
The H.R. Guy discusses onboarding, company culture, and more!
The Big Picture Consulting is known for working with the Trades, especially Heating & Cooling, Plumbers, and Electricians.
But there are many, many other residential contractors who face the same challenges these industries face, and who just don't fit the mold for standard HR consulting companies. Think company truck policies, concerns with how employees represent the brand in customers' homes, hazardous materials handling, and other topics that don't quite
fall into the Construction category, but certainly don't fit the standard office environment.
The Big Picture Consulting works with clients across a broad range of residential contracting categories, including Landscaping, Carpet Cleaning, Window Screens, Chimney Service, Pest Control, Swimming Pool Servicing, and Garage Doors. While the details vary by industry, state, size, and company preferences, the needs and policies across these industries are often very similar.
It's our work with Garage Door companies that connected Ian "The H.R. Guy" to the Torsion Talk Podcast Network, which is designed to educate and motivate the amazing people in the garage door industry.
Here's a replay
of Ian's discussion with Ryan and Tamara on onboarding do's and don'ts, company culture, systems and processes, exit interviews, and severance packages. This information is useful beyond just residential services companies - it's a must-listen for anyone trying to run their business.
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?