What HR Actually Looks Like in Small Businesses
HR advice is usually written for companies with departments, policies already in place, and someone whose full-time job is managing people issues.
That’s not how it works in most small businesses.
When you have 5, 10, or 25 employees, HR shows up between customer calls, payroll deadlines, job sites, and late nights.
It’s handled by owners and managers who didn’t sign up to be HR experts - but are doing their best to keep things running, stay compliant, and treat people fairly.
On Paper vs. In Reality
On Paper:
Policies are written before problems happen
Managers are trained before managing people
Compliance is proactive and planned
In Reality
Policies get written after something goes wrong
Managers are promoted because they’re good at the work
Compliance becomes urgent when an issue lands on your desk
What HR actually looks like day to day
Issues that don’t feel urgent… until they suddenly are
The same problems resurfacing because the root issue never got addressed
Owners carrying people decisions alone and second-guessing every move
Systems built out of necessity, not intention
The tension between doing the right thing and doing what’s realistic
How to Use This Blog
Each post below explores one piece of what HR actually looks like in a small business. They’re meant to help you think clearly, not scare you or overwhelm you.
You don’t need to fix everything at once. You just need a clearer picture of where you stand.
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