Small Business HR Health Check

1. Each role you hire for has a current written description of its responsibilities and requirements.

2. Candidates for the same role are asked the same core interview questions and assessed against the same criteria.

3. Every new employee receives a written offer, and a signed agreement is on file before they start.

4. New hires have their equipment, accounts and workspace ready on their first day.

5. There is a plan for each new hire's first week and first 90 days.

6. Managers check in with new hires at set points in their first three months.

7. You have written workplace policies or a handbook that employees can easily find.

8. Your policies have been reviewed in the last year, or since you began employing people in a new province or state.

9. Employees confirm they've read key policies, such as conduct and harassment, when they join and after major updates.

10. Each employee has a complete, organized file stored securely.

11. Access to employee information is limited to the people who need it.

12. You know how long you need to keep different kinds of employee records.

13. Employees receive regular feedback on their work, not only at an annual review.

14. Employees have a clear, safe way to raise concerns, including concerns about their manager.

15. You ask employees for their views at least once a year and tell them what you'll do with the results.

16. People who become managers receive training or coaching on leading others.

17. Managers know what to do when an employee raises a complaint.

18. Managers document performance concerns in a consistent way.

19. You use a checklist when someone leaves, covering final pay, equipment, access and required forms.

20. Access to systems and buildings is removed promptly on an employee's last day.

21. You ask departing employees about their experience and look for patterns over time.