What’s The Difference Between HR And An HR Consultant?

What’s The Difference Between HR And An HR Consultant?

In order to have a successful business, it is important to have a well-functioning human resources department. However, many businesses do not have the time or resources to staff a full-time HR specialist. That’s where HR consulting comes in. An HR consultant can provide your business with the expertise and specialization you need to make sure your HR department is running smoothly.

HR consultants are experts in human resources, and they can be valuable resources to your business. They may be able to assist with all aspects of human resources, from managing employees to ensuring that you have proper policies in place for recruiting and retaining new talent.

Many people are looking for an HR consultant to help with various tasks such as developing and implementing employee policies, handling disciplinary issues, and much more. In order to be a good HR consultant, it is important to have a variety of skills and knowledge. Some of the skills that are necessary include excellent communication and problem-solving abilities, experience working with employees and company policies, human resources, and employment law, as well as strong organizational skills. Additionally, being knowledgeable about various HR software programs can also be helpful.

They typically work with businesses to help them find and hire employees, as well as to ensure that the businesses are in compliance with all relevant employment laws. However, the role of a human resources consultant has changed in recent years, and they are now often asked to do more than just recruitment. In fact, many HR consultants are now responsible for areas such as employee training, performance management, and onboarding. Additionally, they may also be responsible for developing HR policies and procedures.

What does an HR consultant do?

HR Consultants deliver the expertise you need to augment your human resources team. From growth plans to sustainability to a strategic approach for building and growing your own human resources expertise, our HR Consulting leaders bring experience, knowledge, and special training and certifications to your organization. Here are some things to look for when hiring a good HR consultant:

  • A strong understanding of HR concepts and how they apply to the organization they are consulting for.
  • Extensive experience working in HR roles within organizations of similar size and scope.
  • Provide guidance on how to best manage employee relations and develop a strong human resources policy.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills to communicate effectively with employees. 
  • Proven ability to problem solve complex HR issues.
  • Strong knowledge about human resources management tools.
  • A strong understanding of complex organizational systems.
  • Ability to identify and address any HR issues that may arise.
  • Extensive knowledge of HR law and how it applies to your industry.

HR Consultants can provide guidance on drafting and administering policies, handling employee grievances, and much more. HR Consultants are involved in structuring your human resource team and can provide systems design and implementation for client organizations.

What services do HR consultants provide?

HR Consultants are responsible for advising employers on all aspects of human resources management. They should have a broad range of experience, including in areas such as labor law, employee benefits, performance reviews, and employee communications. They should also be well-versed in human resources management and have strong communication and interpersonal skills.

HR consultants can help your business with a wide range of HR areas. 

Training Solutions

Employees are the backbone of every company, yet many organizations do not have the internal resources to develop, manage and deliver effective training programs. A well-designed training program will help employees learn new skills, improve productivity, and boost morale and retention. According to a 2022 survey by TalentLMS and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) 76% of employees agree that they are more likely to stay with a company that offers continuous training. The same study showed that training programs are bringing companies a 24% higher profit margin compared to those who don’t invest in training. From leadership training to soft skills development to compliance training, an HR Consultant can help you improve scalability, effectiveness, and efficiency with high-quality training experiences for your employees. 

Talent Management

Talent is at the heart of every organization. The Predictive Index 2022 Report noted that 82% of companies needed help with talent acquisition and retention over the past 12 months. Creating a culture that enables your organization to attract top talent includes needs identification, job descriptions, recruiting, outplacement, onboarding, and even remote work policies and procedures. HR Consultants can help you identify focus areas as part of our gap analysis, and then help you design, develop and implement an exceptional talent management program then helps you attract and retain the best talent for your organization. 

Culture and Strategy 

A healthy workplace has a culture that outperforms other organizations with a weak or even toxic culture. A 2021 Global Culture Survey of leaders and employees reported almost 70% said that their culture has been a source of competitive advantage.   A company’s values, beliefs, attitudes, and actions should guide decisions and establish an organizational culture to attract like-minded employees and customers who are aligned with that culture. A strategic approach to defining culture and building community, rewards, and leadership can create an organizational advantage well beyond features, benefits, and pricing. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are a part of our world and our workplace. These initiatives help employees better understand, accept and appreciate differences among team members. Diverse companies enjoy 19% more profitability as compared to less diverse work environments, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group. Companies recognize the importance of addressing DEI, but often don’t know where or how to approach education and execution within their organization. HR consultants provide structure and support to help you develop programs and training for a more inclusive workplace. 

Regulatory Compliance

From ACA to ADA, FMLA, FLSA, COBRA, HIPPA, and so many more employment rules and regulations, staying compliant with your HR programs can be a real challenge. An HR Consultant should have the knowledge and the experience to help you through the often complex maze of HR regulatory compliance issues that face human resource departments across the country to understand the HR regulatory responsibilities, challenges, and support so you can focus on running your business.

HR Support

When it comes to understanding and executing human resources activities, who do you count on to support your HR team or company leadership with projects and perspectives that go beyond the day-to-day HR activities? An HR Consultant brings the expertise and capacity to better enable your organization with increased HR support to better serve the unique needs of your employees and your business.

ASO Solutions

Larger organizations often have some aspects of their HR operations they are happy with and want to leave in place. But they might need help in other aspects of human resources such as HR administration, regulatory compliance, payroll, and benefits administration. This is when an Administrative Only Services (ASO) offering is valuable. ASO provides flexible and responsive services for growing your organization by supplementing your company’s HR support. 

Additional Services

Sometimes you may need select services that don’t fit into a PEO solution or primary HR consulting services. Additional HR-related outsourced business services enable you to stay focused on your core business. From managing time and attendance to understanding how you can benefit from work opportunity tax credits (WOTC), we have the expertise and partnerships to help you beyond just payroll, benefits, and compliance support.

When deciding which HR consultant you should use, it is important to keep in mind where you need additional expertise and support to augment your current human resources team. 

What Are the Benefits of an HR Consultant?

When it comes to allocating and managing human resources, many businesses lack the in-house expertise required to make informed and strategic decisions. That’s where HR consultants come in. They deliver the expertise you need to augment your human resources department, whether you need help recruiting new employees, developing policies and procedures, or training your staff.

An HR consultant can help businesses with a wide range of tasks, without incurring the costs, salary, and overhead associated with hiring a full-time HR executive leader. The right HR consultant can help you develop and implement policies and procedures, recruit and train employees, and handle any personnel issues that may arise. They can also help you stay up to date on employment law changes and ensure that your company is in compliance with all applicable regulations. By working with an HR consultant, businesses can save time and money while ensuring that they are getting the best HR expertise to ensure a better employee experience. You can also avoid the costly mistakes that can often result from trying to do everything yourself.

What’s the Difference Between an HR Consultant and a PEO?

HR consulting services provide an array of benefits to employers—from providing guidance on how to best manage your workforce, to helping you avoid legal pitfalls and emerging trends. A PEO provides similar benefits, but the two are not exactly alike. A PEO is a human resources partner organization that specializes in HR administration, payroll, benefits, risk and compliance, and other human resources services. HR consulting services can also help businesses with these functions but not every HR consultant will provide all of these services. A PEO could be a great fit for your organization if you need to have an HR partner to provide the bulk of your human resources functions.

HCC’s HR Consulting delivers the human resources expertise you need for helping your organization with the most challenging issues for team development, diversity, equity and inclusion, HR training, acquiring and retaining talent, compliance, succession planning, and as an on-call resource for projects and ongoing subject matter expertise. Whether you lack internal resources to accomplish your objectives or just need to augment your staff, HCC’s HR Consulting experts can help lead, guide, and mentor your people and teams.

When it comes to the differences between an HR Consultant and a PEO, there are many factors to consider. One of the most important distinctions is the level of service that each provides. An HR Consultant typically offers more limited services that are more focused on strategic guidance or specific challenges, while a PEO usually provides more hands-on support across a broad range of services that include payroll, benefits administration, compliance, and more. As a result, businesses should carefully assess their needs in order to determine which option is best for their situation.

Let HCC help you determine if an HR Consultant is right for your business. The good news is we have the right HR services for almost every organization, including yours. Contact us today, and we’ll get the conversation started.