Your staff are one of the greatest investments you’ll make in business. Manage that investment wisely with the expert guidance of IR Specialists.
Established 20 years ago by Greville Howard (BA LLB), IR Specialists has amassed a loyal following of clients who rely on the company’s expertise to establish and manage their workforce. “We have great respect for business owners and know how difficult it is to succeed,” says Greville. “Our role is to alleviate staffing issues, freeing you up to focus on what you’re good at.”
Many small businesses fall into the trap of viewing human resources as a tick list that needs to be dealt with, rather than seeing the value of proper planning and effective execution. This is where IR Specialists steps in. The team is made up of experts in HR, industrial relations and the associated legal issues, making them perfect for dealing with a raft of issues, from performance management to unions, strikes, sexual harassment, drug and alcohol abuse, and theft.
Traditionally, an in-house HR manager will use a network of consultants, with bills quickly adding up. IR Specialists offer real value for money, using highly-qualified professionals to get the job done efficiently. “Over the years, we’ve developed a kind of sixth sense when it comes to staffing issues and are able to quickly identify problem areas within a company. Coupled with a thorough understanding of workforce culture, this makes us well equipped to straighten out any issues.”
“Labour problems are difficult because you get to know your staff – good or bad – and it becomes impossible to be objective. We make business decisions rational.”
“IR Specialists flawlessly function as our HR/IR Department,” BFG Retail
Recruitment
Get this right from the start and you’ll set your business on a path of positive growth, with far fewer hurdles along the way. New BBBEE (broad based black economic empowerment) regulations put greater focus on management level, making good recruitment and training essential for future success.
IR Specialists has access to sophisticated profiling software, which enables you to assess candidates on their abilities and aptitudes, identifying potential managers early on. This will save you a great deal on training in the long run. Similarly, ensuring the correct mix of personalities within your company will help boost team spirit and, therefore, productivity.
Legislation
2014 saw significant developments in labour legislation, with more to come in 2015. These changes are set to encourage all businesses to comply and mean that you will need to work harder to achieve your BBBEE rating. Business owners should also be prepared for closer scrutiny across the board.
Kristy Keating (B Soc. Sci, B Com. Honours – Industrial Relations) is up to date with all these developments and has the skills to set up a strategy that will not only keep your business on the right side of the law, but will also establish a foundation for greater growth in the future.
This includes the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act and Skills Development Act. Companies will no longer be able to simply submit Employment Equity reports without proper consultation, analysis and plans in place, among other requirements.
Beyond this, Kristy is also able to help with BBBEE, especially socio-economic and community initiatives, both of which offer spin-offs including improved morale and marketing opportunities.
Legal issues
“We currently stand at a critical point in our labour history in SA,” Greville continues. “In the 1990s, there was a massive move towards outsourcing labour. However, new legislation states that employers and those they outsource to are jointly liable for any come-back from employees. This opens employers up to a wide range of problems, not least of which is the fact that unions are now able to exert authority in companies where they had less influence before. IR Specialists is ideally placed to manage these issues, as an outsourced IR/HR department.”
With a B Soc. Sci. and an LLB, plus numerous legal proceedings under his belt, Brian Harvey is highly-qualified to assist with those vital legal issues, including the proper implementation of performance management. “When done properly, it has a knock-on effect within a company, improving morale, productivity and effectiveness,” says Brian. “Sometimes, all it takes is for one employee to be appropriately dealt with.”
As a client of IR Specialists, you automatically become a member of an Employers’ Association, which allows you to be fully represented at all disputes at the CCMA and Bargaining Councils, with an experienced consultant working to ensure that you receive the best possible solution.
If staffing issues are top of your agenda for 2015, be sure to give IR Specialists a call to find out about their affordable retainer packages and rates for once-off work. They will decode the clutter and help you get on with what you’re good at – running your business.
031 764 2295 / 083 654 7425
greville@irspecialists.co.za
HR and BBBEE: 082 312 6114 kristy@irspecialists.co.za
Disciplinary hearings and legal: 084 569 40129 brian@irspecialists.co.za
www.irspecialists.co.za