If the business you work in is anything like other small businesses, then your role of office manager means you handle just about anything!

If the business you work in is anything like other small businesses, then your role of office manager means you handle just about anything! So, along with managing office supplies, equipment, record keeping, furniture and reception, you’re also the de-facto HR manager in charge of all the HR processes.

And because of the enormous number of HR issues that can play out each and every day, this area probably tests your incredible people skills and multitasking flair to the max.

We know your job isn’t easy, so we’ve put together our top hacks to save you time managing your HR processes and help ensure things run like clockwork.

1. Don’t leave compliance to chance

Setting up compliant HR processes for hiring, managing and exiting employees is essential. It’s business 101. Likewise, having the right paperwork in place when you hire people on is critical.

For example, you need to provide your new hires with all the relevant information about your company, their new role and your expectations of them when they start. This includes having them read and acknowledge your code of conduct and other company policies as part of your onboarding process. Failing to do this means your employees aren’t bound by your company policies which puts your business at risk.

So, to minimise the risk of HR compliance fails you need to develop a library of up-to-date HR documents, forms and templates. The best way to eliminate most HR compliance risks is by using a purpose-built HR platform to automate and manage these key HR compliance requirements. Businesses of any size in any industry can really benefit from specialist HR tools.

 2. Ditch the spreadsheets

If you’re still a slave to the HR spreadsheet, then you’re probably putting yourself under enormous pressure to keep it all up to date. But you don’t have to. While there’s a significant amount of data that you need to collect, record and analyse, you don’t have to do it on a spreadsheet.

There is affordable, cloud based HR software that you can use. So instead of having to manage multiple spreadsheets that are getting a whole lot wider and longer with each new data point, you can have a single source of truth for all your HR information right at your fingertips.

You’ll be able to access any HR data in just a few clicks, even when you’re on the go. As more of your competitors move to internet and cloud based HR processes and intelligence tools, it’s important not to be left behind. With a purpose-built HR system, you can make your life easier and organized.

3. Automate everything

With so much on your plate, where’s the sense in hanging onto old ways of doing things when there are much better, faster alternatives? From daily tasks like managing employee personal data, to weekly rostering, to half yearly performance reviews, you can slash the number of unnecessary HR administrative tasks you need to do to zero.

Take performance reviews for example, using HR software, you can keep a running log of notes on an employee throughout the year, to ensure you you’re appraising an individual’s performance over time – not just the immediate past. With automation, validating performance helps to ensure that the records are systematically updated to easily see how your people are performing. And all the chasing of managers and employees to complete their reviews is done via the system, so you don’t have to.

4. Integrate, integrate, integrate

If you want to claw back time in your day, using integrated tools across the business will enable you to cut out so much duplication, and double handling.

These days, modern business tools for HR, payroll, accounting, CRM, marketing, project management, and more, integrate to streamline all areas of the business. With integrated business tools in the cloud, you not only ease your administration workload but also help increase productivity and collaboration, and reduce the risk of human error. You’ll also be able to collect more data, and gain more meaningful insights for the business.

Switch to modern HR tools

Using a modern HR system like Employment Hero is a clear winner over handwritten records, and Excel spreadsheets. HR documents and templates are updated whenever the regulations change, and with all your files and HR documents accessible 24/7, you’ll never have to waste time hunting for pieces of paper again.