Executive Director's Message

Juan A. Navejar Jr.

Looking to survive hard economic hard times is getting tough on our local business community. Many businesses that expanded their workforce in the rise of the Eagle Ford Shale have now had to scale back down. If this is your business, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate your business before adding/downsizing to your payroll. Do not settle on just anyone for your business because you need a body as this might not be the best thing for your business. You have to find the right fit for your business.
Understanding Human Resource Management (HR) is not that all complicated. Many small business owners believe that HR is complicated because it requires a psych degree to understand human behavior or expensive HR professionals to help them manage their people. While the right HR professionals can be very effective in providing guidance to a business owner, it is not a prerequisite to successful employee practices. After all, business owners and management are ultimately responsible and accountable for managing their people.
The secret to having a good HR person is having someone with good common sense and who is fair and will do the right thing.
When hiring someone, you want someone who is going to impress you. The new hire is going to provide a service to you and your customer. Don’t be afraid to ask what they bring to the table. Check references as these will be key to their past employment history. Even if you do not hire the individual, keep their info in a database for future reference.
The interview is critical, so do not “wing it”. Interviewing requires some training or experience. There are some good resources like the Texas Human Resource Manual produced by the Texas Association of Business (TAB) of which the Alice Chamber of Commerce is part of. TAB provides a vast knowledge from their library. Visit their website on HR compliance.
When it comes to wages, get creative because you are competing with a bigger market. Even if you don’t have the deep pockets to pay, you can still attract great employees. Think low or no-cost incentives like casual dress Friday or if you can afford it a Birthday day off with pay. Other ways maybe work from home once a month during the summer to help those with kids or feed the staff quarterly. Perks do not have to be mandatory but it can sure attract someone who may be looking for a “family atmosphere work place”.
Other ways of attracting potential employees is using your website. When someone is looking at possibly applying at your business they will check you out first. Consider structuring your management site with pictures of current employees working. Not the posed grip and grin shots. Take out the camera and take candid shots. These make the best pictures as it shows a human side to your business.
Let’s talk about yourself, the boss. The number one reason people take a job is because of their boss. It is also the number one reason as to why people leave a job. Ask yourself if you have had the proper training to lead a group. Listen to your employees and if they have small changes that can significantly improve the working environment do not be afraid to listen to them and implement the idea if it works. Treat your employees like your best customer because they are your “bread and butter”. Consider work evaluations annually as they help you gage your assets.
Finally be clear with a good employee handbook. If you promised an employee a paid holiday do not go back on your word or put stipulations that are outrageous like it falls on a weekend so I won’t pay it. Be clear about the company business goals, philosophies, rules, language and expectation. Do not assume all your employees know the entire handbook. Talk about it at an employee meeting. Remind of office hours and policies. Do not change the policy in the middle of the game because you are in a bad mood. And above all do not threaten your employees. If you are doing your job, there is no need to make the employee feel like they are not part of the TEAM.
As a business owner or boss, take the steps to know all the aspects of your business. Communicate with your employees. Review your employee handbook. Do not wait until you do not recognize your employees or ask yourself “who hired these people?” It is not about just hiring someone. It is about hiring the right fit for your business and what works best to improve your customer base, after all these folk are “your bread and butter.”