Blog

HR, explained without the jargon.

Practical guidance for small business owners and the people who ended up running HR without signing up for it.

Performance
September 26, 2026

Year-End Reviews Are Coming. Here's Where They Usually Go Wrong.

Year-end reviews are about to land on managers who haven't thought about performance since last December. Here's where reviews usually go wrong, and what to fix now.

Read the post →
Compliance
September 22, 2026

Your HR Year-End Checklist for Small Businesses

Payroll cutoffs, tax form data, PTO rules, pay changes for January 1, and the cleanup that makes next year easier. A practical year-end HR checklist.

Read the post →
Compliance
September 15, 2026

Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act: What Employers Actually Have to Do

Michigan's paid sick leave law changed four times in seven years, and some of what's online is flat wrong. Here's what the Earned Sick Time Act actually requires now.

Read the post →
Compliance
September 8, 2026

Your 2026 W-2s Are Going to Look Different, and Most Employers Aren't Ready

Codes TT and TP are mandatory on 2026 W-2s, and the wages you are processing right now are the wages you will have to report. Here is what to fix before December.

Read the post →
Compliance
August 19, 2026

7 Signs Your Small Business Needs an HR Consultant

Most owners call after something has already gone wrong. Here are the seven warning signs that tell you it is time, before you are cleaning up a problem.

Read the post →
Fractional HR
August 12, 2026

What is Fractional HR, and Does Your Business Need It?

You need HR expertise but not a full-time salary. Here is what fractional HR actually means, who it fits, and how to tell if you are ready.

Read the post →
Fractional HR
April 2, 2026

When Does a Company Need HR? The Headcount Milestones That Change the Rules

As you grow, the employment laws that apply to you change, often without anyone telling you. Here are the headcount milestones that matter most.

Read the post →
Compliance
March 8, 2026

5 HR Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)

Most small business HR problems are preventable. Here are the five mistakes that come up most often, and what to do about each one this week.

Read the post →
Hiring
September 22, 2025

Onboarding and Job Descriptions: The Quiet Causes of Early Turnover

When new hires leave in the first 90 days, the reason usually traces back to two things most businesses treat as paperwork: how people are onboarded, and whether the job matches the description.

Read the post →
Compliance
August 11, 2025

The Employee Handbook Nobody Reads, and How to Fix That

Most handbooks get signed, filed, and never opened again. Here's how to write one people will actually read, without giving up the legal protection it's there to provide.

Read the post →
Fractional HR
July 20, 2025

When a Key Person Goes on Leave: Keeping HR Running Without Burning Out Your Team

When the person who handles HR goes on leave, the work doesn't stop. Here's how to plan for it so the business keeps running and nobody gets buried.

Read the post →
Compliance
July 6, 2025

Time for a Mid-Year Policy Refresh? Here's What to Review

A lot can change in six months. Mid-year is the right time to check whether your policies still match the law, your business, and what actually happens day to day.

Read the post →
Hiring
June 5, 2025

What Is Employer Branding, and Why Does It Affect Your Hiring?

If you're reposting the same job, attracting the wrong candidates, or losing people at the offer stage, the problem might not be your pipeline. It might be how you look from the outside.

Read the post →
Fractional HR
May 31, 2025

The Story Behind HR Success Partners

Why I built HR Success Partners: the businesses that need good HR the most are usually the ones that can least afford a full department.

Read the post →
Compliance
May 21, 2025

What Needs to Be in Your Employee Files (and What Doesn't)

Disorganized personnel files cost you in audits, claims, and wasted time. Here's what belongs in each file, what must be kept separate, and the gaps most small businesses have.

Read the post →
Compliance
May 20, 2025

Is Your Business Ready for an I-9 Inspection?

When an I-9 inspection notice arrives, you usually have three business days to respond. Here's how small businesses can get their files in order before that happens.

Read the post →
Compliance
February 27, 2025

Your First Quarter HR Checklist: Filings, Deadlines, and Audits

W-2s, 1099s, payroll returns, and the audits worth doing while you're in there. A plain-language checklist for the first quarter.

Read the post →
No items found.
Start Here

Where does your HR actually stand?

Two minutes, ten questions, no email required. You will get an honest read on your gaps and what to deal with first.

Take the Free HR Self-Audit