Need good advice on recruiting, hiring, firing and retaining employees? This is the place. As an entrepreneur, you need to know HR inside and out -- everything from answering employee questions to determining the benefits package you offer your employees. These articles will guide you through the complex world of human resources.

• Hiring First Employee - I'm hiring my first employee - what do I do? If that's your current challenge, this is the right article for you. More...
• Finding Good Employees - Finding good employees is critical to your success. The better your employees, the more likely your company will be successful. But where do you find good employees? More...
• Alternatives to Hiring Employees - We discuss alternatives to hiring employees. Sometimes you need people fast. Here are some ways entrepreneurs can address personnel shortages. More...
• Motivating Employees - Smart entrepreneurs have a secret weapon. They know how to motivate their employees. Now you can learn their secret as well. More...
• Employee Performance Reviews - Most entrepreneurs wait too long to start conducting employee performance reviews. If you don't yet conduct performance reviews, here's how to get started. More...
• Employee Benefits Primer - We cover the basics. What is an employee benefits plan? Why should you offer employee benefits? More...
• Employee Benefits - Designing an employee benefits plan is a complex undertaking. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when offering employee benefits. More...
• How to Set Up a 401(k) Plan - Attracting and retaining high-quality employees is a priority for every business owner. Establishing a 401(k) plan can help. More...
• Small Businesses and Equal Opportunity - Federal laws protect your employees from discrimination. Are you in full compliance with the equal opportunity laws that apply to your business? More...
• Illegal Interview Questions - Do you know the differenc between legal interview questions and illegal interview questions? If not, your business is at risk. More...
• Understanding Workers Compensation - Workers' compensation insurance covers injuries and occupational diseases picked up at work. More...
• Using PEOs - There are advantages and disadvantages to Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). We cover the pros and cons of PEOs and employee leasing. More...
• Employee Handbooks - An employee handbook is a must-have for every business. Formally writing down policies in an employee handbook can help your business to run more smoothly. Plus, it could keep you out of court. More...
• Offering Employees Stock Options - Employee stock options are an increasingly common form of employee compensation. If you want to attract and keep good workers, learn about employee stock options. More...
• Conducting Employee Reviews - Some entrepreneurs never conduct employee reviews. That's a mistake. Conducting employee reviews can have a very positive impact on your business bottomline. More...
• Family and Medical Leave Act - In 1993, Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The purpose of the act is to provide job security for employees who need to be temporarily absent from the workplace in order to attend to a family-related medical crisis. More...
• Small Business Sexual Harassment - Small business sexual harassment? If it happens at your business, you could lose your business! More importantly, it's just plain bad. Take a hard line against sexual harassment before it occurs. More...
• Firing Employees - Need to know how to fire an employee? It's not as simple as just handing them a pink slip. More...
• Conducting Background Checks - Conducting background checks is a necessary part of the hiring process. Businesses that hire employees without a thorough background check are asking for all kinds of problems. More...
• Finding Employees on the Web - Are you finding employees on the web? These days, recruiting via the web is the most efficient way to find top talent. More...
• Laying Off Employees - Laying off employees is never pleasant. Most entrepreneurs hope they never have to conduct layoffs. If you find yourself needing to layoff employees, make sure you do it right. More...
• Minimum Wage - Are you paying minimum wage? You better be! The national minimum wage applies to nearly all workers and sets hourly rates below which pay must not be allowed to fall. More...
• Boosting Employee Productivity - Here are eight great ways to boost employee productivity and motivate employees to do great things for your business. More...
• Workplace Safety - Interested in small business workplace saftety? This article explains steps entrepreneurs can take to establish effective safety programs. More...
• Small Business Substance Abuse Policies - Regardless of size or location, no business is immune to the myriad problems that come with employee alcohol and drug abuse. More...
• Small Business Owners Compensation - How much money do small business owners make? It depends. Every small business owner struggles with how much to take out of and how much to leave in their companies. More...
• Working with Family Members - Hiring relatives? Running a family business? Conflict in a family business is perhaps one of the most unpleasant things one can experience. More...
• Telecommuting and Flex Time - Telecommuting, flex time, and compressed work weeks are catching on. If you are looking for innovative ways to run a company, this article will get you started. More...
• Labor Law Posters - Looking for information on labor law posters and labor law poster compliance? We've got everything you need to know about federal HR posters and state HR posters. More...
• Starting an Internship Program - Hiring interns? Creating internship programs is a smart move for any small business owner. Summer interns can help with all sorts of projects, and the price is right. More...
• Minimum Wages by State - Finding out what the minimum wage is for your state is more difficult than it should be. We've done the research for you. More...
• How to Write Employee Handbooks - Wondering how to write an employee handbook? Communicating your personnel policies in a professional employee handbook is essential. If you've been tasked with writing an employee handbook, this article is a must-read. More...
• 401k Plans and Section 125 Flexible Spending Account - Employee benefits for small businesses is a catch-22. You have a limited budget but you need to attract and retain great employees. This article on 401k plans and Section 125 flexible spending accounts discusses some great employee perks you can offer at a reasonable cost. More...
• Offering Stock Options - Considering offering stock options to employees? For small firms, stock options can level the playing field for recruiting the best and the brightest. More...
• Paying for Performance - Interested in employee incentive programs? In this article on small business compensation, we offer guidelines for creatively rewarding your employees' hard work. More...
• Workers Compensation Insurance - Injuries on the job can occur at any time. If you are a small business owner, make sure you are complying with all workers' compensation requirements. More...
• Mentoring Employees - Smart entrepreneurs and small business CEOs understand the importance of mentoring new employees. Implementing a mentoring program helps small business employees be more effective faster. More...
• Severance Packages - Firing an employee isn't pleasant but severance packages can soften the blow. This article offers helpful guidance on providing severance packages for laid-off employees. More...
• Workforce Diversity - While it's true that non-compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity or Affirmative Action legislation may lead to penalties or cause your small business to lose government contracts, there are better reasons to promote diversity in your workforce. More...
• Brown Bag Lunches - Improve workplace dynamics by offering brown bag workshops and events. Your employees will appreciate your concern and they will become better employees in the process. More...
• Planning Office Social Events - Planning social gatherings for your employees outside of work is one of the best ways to encourage a healthy work environment where teamwork thrives. More...
• Overtime Overload - Asking employees to work overtime is difficult. The key is to handle overtime in such a way that working overtime isn't a crisis but rather an essential yet temporary necessity. More...
• Business Ethics - Business ethics? Some people think that's an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp. The reality is that a lot of business owners are taking all the right steps to run their businesses ethically. More...
• Apprentice Programs - Apprentices - it sounds like something out of the middle ages. Surprisingly, thanks in part to Donald Trump, the idea of hiring apprentices is coming back. More...
• Dealing with Problem Employees - Wondering what to do with a problem employee? Despite our best efforts to hire smart, inevitably we entrepreneurs end up with a nightmare employee that puts our business at risk. More...
• Creating a Learning Organization - Creating a learning organization requires a deep rethinking of the leader's role. Small business owners must see themselves as learning leaders, responsible for helping their employees develop the capacity to carry out their mission. More...
• Good Interview Questions - Asking good interview questions when hiring can make or break a business. That's because hiring the right people is central to the continuing growth and success of your business. More...
• Partnering with Local Business Schools - Trying to grow your business? Partnering with local business schools can be a great way to tap into talent. Professors and students are both potential resouces for you. Here's how to reach out and tap into that power. More...
• Rising Star Employees - Rising star employees must be identified and nurtured. How do you recognize a rising star on your staff and what should you do to nurture those talents? More...
• Small Business Health Insurance Plans - Finding good, affordable small business health insurance plans has become a nearly Herculean challenge for small business owners. More...
• Health Savings Accounts - Health savings accounts -- you've read about them but do you understand how to use them to grow your business? More...
• Employee Wellness Programs - Small business wellness programs are catching on. The costs of implementing a wellness program are minimal compared to the benefits. More...
• Preventing Violence in the Workplace - Violence in the workplace is a serious safety and health issue. Its most extreme form, homicide, is the fourth-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States. More...
• Preparing for Annual Employee Reviews - Wondering how to conduct employee reviews effectively? Giving feedback to employees is extremely important. Here are some useful tips for conducting employee reviews. More...
• Productivity and Vacation Comparisons by Country - Working too hard? Need a vacation? If you live in the United States, forget about it. We take a look at productivity levels by country. More...
• How to Be More Efficient - If you're falling behind in your work, maybe your productivity needs to improve. Here are ten proven productivity improvement tips that can help you get more done in less time. More...
• Setting and Achieving Goals - Sadly, many entrepreneurs don't achieve their goals. In large part, that's because they have not learned the art of effective goal setting. Here's what you need to know to set goals and achieve them! More...
• Hiring Freelancers - Hiring freelancers is a great option for small business owners who are short on certain skills or are simply short on time. When you hire a freelancer, you pay for their services but you don't have to worry about benefits or payroll taxes. Once the freelancing jobs are complete, you can either part ways or give them additional work. More...
• Online Recruitment - Internet recruiting has revolutionized the HR world and made it easier for small businesses to find talented employees. More...
• Parental Leave - Parental leave requirements can get business owners in trouble if they don't understand them. Parental leave perks can also be a valuable recruiting tool. More...
• Career Fairs - Exhibiting at career fairs can be a great recruiting tool. You get the opportunity to promote your organization to tons of prospective hires in a highly efficient manner. More...
• Setting Up an ESOP - Setting up an ESOP isn't a new concept but Sam Zell's recent success in buying the Chicago Tribune has many of us wondering -- could we too benefit from an ESOP? More...
• Determining Compensation Levels - How much to pay employees? That's a question that every growing business must address, and we've got a few insights to share on the subject. More...
• Pay for Performance Compensation Plans - Pay for performance compensation plans are win-win for employees and business owners. When pay for performance salaries are properly implemented, everyone shares a common goal of doing what's best for the company. More...
• Outsourcing Recruiting - Outsourcing recruiting to temp agencies, headhunters, and executive search firms can free a business owner up to focus on more important things. More...
• Productivity Management - Productivity improvement can not happen without a strong productivity management system. Learn how to improve productivity within your organization. More...
• Workplace Design - Winning workplaces know the value of workplace design. We look at some best practices in designing an effective workplace. More...
• How to Hire Good Writers - Hiring good writers is essential, but it's not easy. We offer tips on how to hire good writers and avoid getting stuck with a grammar-challenged employee. More...
• Employee Training - In business, it is generally assumed that employee training programs are a good investment. However, rising costs are causing some business leaders to rethink that assumption. Like any other investment, training programs need to prove their worth in order to survive. More...
• Green Card Costs - Getting a green card for an employee is a noble undertaking, but there are costs involved. In this article, we answer the question: How much does it cost to get a green card? More...