• Determine which Federal & State labor laws apply to your business based on your type of business and employee size.
• Post the required Federal & State labor law posters.

2. Policies & Procedures

• Develop & implement at least the minimum required policies for your business.
• Consider developing an employee handbook.

3. Personnel Files

• Create a file for each of your employees.
• Be aware of the documents that are “required” for each employee and those that are “not permitted” in the personnel file.

4. New Employee Orientation

• Determine the essential components that you need to successfully introduce new employees to your business.
• Develop a structured format to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.

5. Recruitment & Hiring

• Establish recruiting practices that are within the regulatory requirements.
• Determine if you are hiring the “right” person for the job you have open.
• Measure the return-on-investment of your recruiting dollars.

6. Employment Application

• Does your application have the appropriate disclaimers to protect your business?
• Are you asking any questions that could put your business at legal risk?

7. Training

• Develop training objectives that make sense for your business.
• Utilize programs that maximize your training investment.

8. Employee Benefits

• Is your benefit package competitive to allow you to hire and retain the top talent?
• Review your plans for the appropriate compliance issues.

9. Workers’ Compensation & Safety

• Develop a safety program that is effective in reducing work-place risk and your costs.
• Manage your workers’ compensation claims to minimize your expenses.
• Explore the various programs available to allow you to reduce your workers’ compensation costs.

10. Compensation

• Determine if you are offering a competitive pay package.
• Review your pay procedures to ensure compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Evaluate various pay structures that fit your company.

John M. Turner, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of JMT & Associates, LLC, consultants in human resources and safety. If you have questions about your human resources program, please contact John at 330/231-1688 or e-mail him at jmt@jmt-associates.com .