When it comes to HR, there’s not much difference between nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses. Employees are employees in any environment, whether they work for a multinational enterprise or a small local charity.

When you work in HR outsourcing, one of the hardest questions to answer is: what does an HR consultant actually do? It would be easier to answer the question, “what does an HR consultant not do?”

As an outsourced HR consultant, I regularly work with small businesses in need of support in Human Resources. Often these businesses are either in a start-up mode or have a small footprint and need part-time, efficient support to move their businesses forward. That work can sometimes be tactical, and sometimes strategic, and so hiring an outsourcing firm with a broad base of talented generalists can often be a great solution for a company that finds itself in this situation.

Over the past few years, we've seen the national conversation about diversity change as people respond to movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter. People increasingly expect their employers to support DE&I initiatives and support an inclusive workplace. One survey found that up to 86% of candidates are more likely to choose an employer that supports diversity.  While most companies have a diversity equity and inclusion policy in place, not every office is welcoming to women and minorities. This presents a real challenge for employers. How do you go about creating a respectful workplace? And how do you keep diversity alive on your team? 

Historically, Human Resources was (and sometimes still is) regarded as a back-office function, rather than a strategic one. And in the case of many small and mid-sized businesses, the C-suite defines strategy, and then HR is called upon to help execute.

In the past, professionals used to seek out companies that could offer employment for the whole of their career—the so-called “job for life”. Those days are long gone, and the average American will now have 12 jobs in their lifetime.