You’ve heard the term “ergonomics” and how important it is to employee health and safety, but what does it really mean?  “Ergonomics” doesn’t only refer to your keyboard’s shapely new figure—or to your own new figure when you wear that back brace to lift boxes.  Ergonomics is also a science that designs items for the safest, most efficient human use.  In the workplace, this means arranging workstations and creating work conditions that put less strain on the body.  For business owners and managers, ergonomics is also a tool to prevent employee injury.

According to OSHA, improper ergonomics is the primary cause of severe workplace injuries.  OSHA also states that ergonomic issues are common in jobs that require “repetitive, forceful, or prolonged exertions of the hands; frequent or heavy lifting, pushing, pulling or carrying of heavy objects; and prolonged awkward postures.”  Leading the pack of injuries promoted by incorrect ergonomics: musculoskeletal disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis, which are the main cause of workers’ compensation claims among office workers.  Because these injuries may not be readily apparent and may worsen over time, affected employees may be slow to notice discomfort before it becomes a major health problem.  Such injuries cost employers millions of dollars in medical costs and lost employee productivity.

So what can be done to combat the physical strain caused by improper ergonomics?  Some employers may benefit from an independent audit of the company’s ergonomics needs, which will tailor suggestions for improvement to each employee’s workstation.  With or without an auditor’s recommendations, employers should equip workers with the tools necessary to perform their jobs with ease.  These tools may range from easy-touch staplers to brighter office lights.

Proper training is also important to promote ergonomics and to reduce injuries.  Employers should develop ergonomically correct procedures for each job and should incorporate those procedures into their company’s safety program and employee handbook.  Employees should be taught how to ergonomically perform their duties, how to recognize actions that may expose them to injury, and how to identify the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders.

With the right tools and training, effective ergonomic work conditions can lead to higher productivity, decreased risk of illness and injury, and increased worker contentment.  Investing in ergonomic equipment and training will reap the reward of happier employees and reduced workers’ compensation claims.

The economy has experienced one downturn after another and recovery hasn’t come as quickly as analysts had predicted, leaving business owners seeking to save every dollar possible. Many companies have chosen human resources outsourcing as one of their lead strategies so they can save money without sacrificing the quality of their product.

By outsourcing their human resources departments, companies are better able to manage their employees while focusing specifically on building and maintaining the rest of their business. A recent survey taken by the Society for Human Resource Management asked HR departments to list some of their reasons for outsourcing HR functions. The responses overwhelmingly pointed to one major theme: companies were seeking to save money and reduce the rising costs of maintaining full time employees.

Businesses who utilize human resources outsourcing are not only able to concentrate more fully on their core business, but experience up to 40% higher customer satisfaction because their employees are so well trained and efficiently managed.  Additionally, employers are able to increase productivity as much as 35% – 40% by integrating solid employee management strategies that allow companies to do much more with less. 

A growing number of companies are integrating outsourcing as into their human resources operations. The annual revenue for the North American HR outsourcing market grew from approximately $13 billion in 2000 to $23 billion in 2007, and is projected to surpass $40 billion by 2012.

Companies are taking advantage of hiring a Professional Employment Organization to help them save money with some of the following functions: benefits outsourcing, employee benefits, employee handbook, employee/labor relations, employee leasing, government compliance, payroll services, recruitment services, safety and worker’s compensation.

Hiring, training and managing staff for short-term projects can be costly. Outsourcing is providing many companies the cost cutting measures they need to survive this flat economy while allowing them the capital they need to invest into crucial revenue-producing operations.

The astronomical cost of health insurance and related benefits is forcing small and mid-size businesses to cut back on full-time employees. However, in order for companies to continue meeting productivity goals, stay competitive in today’s marketplace and remain profitable, they are turning to Human Resources Outsourcing as a solution to offset the rising cost of employee benefits.

Due to soaring medical costs, it is now estimated that employee benefits make up approximately 30 percent of the total employee compensation dollar. As a result, the days of employers offering first dollar health coverage are long gone.

Presently it is more likely that employers will offer options such as employee contribution, co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance as part of their benefits packages. Yet during these troubled economic times the price tag of these measures is still too high for many small and mid-size companies.

When a company turns to human resources outsourcing as a solution and hires a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) to assume the responsibility of employee benefits, they are able to provide competitive benefits packages while saving a substantial amount of money. This is because many insurance carriers offer PEO reduced prices for employee benefits while offering a full range of healthcare plan options.

By offering comprehensive employee benefits packages, smaller companies are better able to attract, recruit and maintain more qualified employees.

PEO’s not only help small businesses with employee benefits but also assume many other HR responsibilities including:

• Employee/Labor Relations
• Employee Leasing
• Government Compliance
• HR Audits
• HR Consulting
• Safety and Worker’s Compensation

Many small and mid-size companies are finding that by outsourcing their recruitment, HR management and other services that a PEO provides they can expand their core business with greater success.

By leaving the HR management to experts who have years of experience in not only finding a skilled labor force, but also in training and maintaining them, small and mid-sized companies can focus on productivity and growth while cutting costs at the same time.

Smaller companies affected by the present economic climate face more challenges than their larger counterparts. Studies have found that small business suffer more in a bad economy and show lower overall sales than the bigger and more widely recognized companies who rely on their brand name to get them through the tough times.

The fact that lenders have also tightened their purse strings where small businesses are concerned does nothing to help matters. So if it’s sink or swim, how does a small business stay afloat?

The answer to this question is to apply some sound business strategies that entrepreneurs have used during eras of great prosperity as well as throughout the leaner years.

Sound Business Strategies for Small Businesses:

Market like a pro

By taking advantage of mainstream media, which today includes popular communication platforms such as the Internet, mobile marketing and social media, small business can compete with larger brands.

Manage your time and money effectively

By hiring a Professional Employer Organization small businesses are able to cut cost as well as free up their time to focus on the productivity and expansion of their core business.

Keep a staff of well qualified employees

By utilizing a PEO to recruit and manage a sufficiently skilled work force small business can compete in today’s highly technical and quickly evolving marketplace.

Streamline

By reducing waste, multi-tasking and raising efficiency small businesses can step up productivity while slashing their overhead down to a fraction of previous operating costs.

Forecast

By researching trends and focusing on what the marketplace will be responding to in the near future companies can get in on the ground floor and stake their claim to innovative new products and services.

Deliver

By producing and delivering the best products and services possible a small business will build their brand as well as develop something there is still no substitute for; a reputation for excellence.

Turning things around for small businesses and making them more competitive in a difficult marketplace is what outsourcing HR services is all about. Hiring a PEO will provide a small business with the ability to implement the sound strategies that have been the cornerstones of success for many savvy entrepreneurs during both good and bad economic times.

PEO Services Include:

•    Benefits Outsourcing
•    Employee benefits
•    Employee/Labor Relations
•    Employee Leasing
•    Government Compliance
•    HR Audits
•    HR Consulting
•    HR Management
•    HR Outsourcing
•    Payroll Services
•    Recruitment Services
•    Safety and Worker’s Compensation

Saving a small business that is in trouble is not an easy endeavor. However, with the help of a team of experienced professionals most small businesses can find success even in an ailing economy.

Human resource outsourcing is becoming a commonly used business solution for companies who want to lower their expenditures while expanding their labor pool. Most companies are seeking creative and effective strategies to improve their profit margin in a troubled economy.

One of the most popular alternatives is the outsourcing of non-core business such as HR management and payroll services to save money and increase output without cutting back on quality.  Human resource outsourcing is important to any business because it is more cost efficient and time saving to hire an agency to recruit and train employees rather than to do it in-house. Outsourcing workers also relieves companies of the burden of assuming all of the risks and responsibilities of employee/labor relations, safety and workers compensation.

From employee benefits services and payroll processing to HR consulting and technology services, more and more companies are relying on outsourced employees to bring specialized skills to their businesses. High quality employees are any company’s most critical asset.  Outsourcing for fields such as technology and professional services has been proven to be advantageous for companies who want to focus on their core business and but still progress in the marketplace.

Your company more likely than not already outsources some services for these reasons. The most common functions outsourced by employers include:

1.    Call Centers
2.    IT
3.    Distribution
4.    Security
5.    Customer Service
6.    Tax Advisory
7.    Applications Management
8.    Bank Tellers
9.    Technicians
10.    Front Office Administration

Using the recruitment services of a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) or an Administrative Services Organization (ASO) allows a company to rely on their recruitment services and employee leasing services without having to pay the additional high price of employee benefits.

Keeping up with the competition is more difficult to do in a down economy. Utilizing human resources outsourcing is an efficient way for businesses to raise their performance while lowering costs. HR outsourcing is an invaluable tool for recruiting the right people with the experience and expertise that will help a business stay competitive.