Companies both big and small make everyday decisions to help grow their business. One of these decisions is whether or not to outsource human resources (HR). Managing HR tasks can become increasingly challenging as your business grows. Payroll and taxes alone consume a significant amount of time.
As a result, many businesses rely on companies and software to handle everything from payroll and resume screening to benefits registration and compliance issues. HR outsourcing involves transferring these and other HR functions to an outside vendor.
Outsourcing HR functions allows businesses to access specialized expertise while reducing costs and freeing time to focus on core operations. That said, outsourcing has challenges, such as sacrificing accessibility and reducing human interaction between employees and HR. To help you weigh your options before deciding, here are a few pros and cons of outsourcing HR.
Pros of Outsourcing HR
With human capital management becoming more crucial in a company, there has never been a better time to evaluate how you might use the potential of HR outsourcing. Here are a few pros of outsourcing HR.
1. Access to Expertise
Another critical benefit of outsourcing HR is access to specialized expertise. With outsourced HR, businesses can access the expertise of a vendor specializing in HR functions rather than rely on the limited expertise of in-house HR staff. HR is responsible for a wide range of tasks. Outsourcing will give you access to advanced knowledge from seasoned HR specialists.
An experienced outsourced provider will bring expertise in payroll processing, employee benefits administration, compliance management and recruitment processes. Your business will benefit from having access to specialized knowledge without hiring additional staff members or investing in costly training programs.
2. Free More Time and Resources
HR professionals are involved in recruiting, hiring, training, morale-building, policy-making, risk management and other HR-related activities. That’s a lot to ask of one department, let alone one individual. Outsourcing some of these services allows the HR team to focus on strategic rather than tactical issues.
Outsourcing HR can help businesses free up additional time to focus on core operations. Companies can eliminate the need to spend time and resources on tasks such as payroll processing and employee benefits administration. This can be especially beneficial for small businesses that do not have the resources to allocate to a dedicated HR team.
3. Effective Risk Management
Effective risk management involves creating a safe work environment. It also entails safeguarding the employer from potential legal action. Outsourcing HR can help businesses mitigate risks by delegating the HR functions related to employment and labor legislation. These laws change often, so entrusting specialists to keep track of them can help minimize risks.
Staying aware of the various federal and state employment laws is central to an outsourced HR professional’s responsibilities. They’ll help your company comply with them, ensuring that your business does not become involved in costly, lengthy and unnecessary lawsuits.
Outsourcing HR allows businesses to access the expertise of a vendor who can help them manage potential risks, such as compliance and employee relations issues. Additionally, outsourcing can help companies manage potential litigation by transferring potential liability to the vendor.
4. Efficient Performance Management
Employee performance and development are vital to a business’s competitive edge in the market — delegating at least some of your HR functions can help you better understand your core team’s success using the latest HR tools. Similarly, experienced HR professionals can strategize and implement plans to ensure that employees act in accordance with your organization’s policies and procedures, which is hugely beneficial for overall business goals.
Additionally, when you work with an HR outsourcing firm, your internal HR staff will be relieved of many monotonous, repetitive and complex duties that divert their focus from your company’s performance management process.
5. Boosts Employee Morale
Another benefit of outsourcing your HR tasks is the boost it gives employee morale. Employees will feel more at ease not needing to go to corporate executives with their complaints if they have a dedicated HR adviser. HR professionals may also help companies negotiate better benefits programs and verify that all policies are followed, resulting in higher employee satisfaction.
6. Better Talent Acquisition
Outsourcing your recruiting process helps your business rethink its approach to locating and hiring effective candidates. A recruiting professional can successfully develop and post job descriptions, handle candidates, prioritize hiring inclusive talent and appropriately integrate new workers.
Cons of Outsourcing HR
Here are some common cons you may encounter while working with an HR outsourcing provider.
1. Reduced Human Interaction
One potential downside of outsourcing HR is the reduced human interaction between employees and HR. By outsourcing HR, businesses limit the amount of direct contact between employees and HR staff, which can lead to misunderstandings and other issues. It might feel distant when someone in charge of HR responsibilities is remote and outside the regular team. This can be a problem for businesses that rely on solid employee and HR relationships to ensure compliance and effective employee relations.
2. Data Insecurity
In HR, privacy and secrecy are paramount. If you’re used to keeping all sensitive corporate or employee information in-house, you might be concerned about entrusting that highly personal information to another organization. It makes sense, especially in these times of rising security risks. In addition to cybersecurity concerns, you may be concerned about unauthorized data sharing within your HR vendor’s workforce.
3. Cultural Challenges
Many employees are motivated to come to work every day because of their company’s culture. Employees may find it challenging to accept when an outsider manages workplace concerns and establishes the tone. When outsourcing HR, remember that bringing in a vendor may upset the present dynamic or influence morale. Workers want to feel involved, which is especially important if your employees believe they will become more separated if they have to report to an outsourced HR company.
Exude Human Capital Offers HR Outsourcing Solutions
By understanding the potential pros and cons of outsourcing HR, you can make an informed decision that will help your business succeed. The HR function’s tasks and responsibilities are continually changing. Human resource professionals are challenged daily to accomplish more with fewer resources and budgets.
Do you need an extra hand with some of your day-to-day HR functions? We’ve got you covered! Exude Human Capital helps business leaders develop practical solutions to help their companies and employees thrive. We offer on-site and remote HR outsourcing solutions where we will match you with a human resource professional who is an expert in the areas of support you want or a general HR expert who can assist you in various ways.
Contact us online today to learn more about our HR consulting services.
