--- title: 7 Common HR Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Fix Them description: Human resource management for the small business has its own inherent problems. On our blog, find out seven common HR mistakes and how to fix them. image: https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/dec%204%20blog%20image.webp --- - [Client Portal](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) - [Employee Login](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) [![AxcetHR Solutions Blog](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/AxcetHR2021%20Blog/axcethr_logo_white%20(1).png)](https://www.axcethr.com/) - [About Us](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/) - [Corporate Philantropy](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/corporate-philanthropy/) - [Meet the Team](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/meet-the-team/) - [Values and Culture](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/values-and-culture/) - [Kansas PEO](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/kansas-peo/) - [Missouri PEO](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/missouri-peo/) - [Careers](https://axcethrsolutions.prismhr-hire.com/) - [Why Axcet](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/) - [Why Choose Axcet?](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/) - [About PEOs](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/about-peos/) - 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[Employee Benefits](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-benefits) - [All about COVID-19 in the Workplace](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/covid19) - [Kansas & Missouri HR News](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/kansas-and-missouri-hr-news) - [Kansas City Interest News](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/kansas-city-interest-news) - [PEO/HRO](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/peo) - Choose Topic: - [Human Resources](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/human-resources) - Payroll Administrations - [Employee Safety & Risk Management](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-safety-risk-management) - [Employee Benefits](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/employee-benefits) - [PEO](https://blog.axcethr.com/topic/peo) # 7 Common HR Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Fix Them By [Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman) on [Dec 04, 2019](https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them) 4 min read [0 comment(s)](https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them#comments-listing) Share this: - - - - [whatsapp://send?text=https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them](whatsapp://send?text=https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them) - [mailto:?subject=7%20Common%20HR%20Mistakes%20Small%20Businesses%20Make%20and%20How%20to%20Fix%20Them&body=https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them](mailto:?subject=7%20Common%20HR%20Mistakes%20Small%20Businesses%20Make%20and%20How%20to%20Fix%20Them&body=https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them) ![dec 4 blog image](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dec%204%20blog%20image.webp?width=1000&name=dec%204%20blog%20image.webp) Axcet HR Solutions knows that the owners and managers of small, growing businesses are busy people. While you’re overseeing one of the many other aspects of running a business, a time might come when your attention is diverted from HR matters. For many small businesses, this can lead to disaster. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of issues you can look out for. ## 1. Recruitment One of the most important parts of growing a small business is recruitment. Talented, capable new hires are the foundation that the future of your company will rest on. Many small businesses miss out on these new hires, however, because their HR personnel fails to craft well-written, precise job description. Your company’s first impression with job seekers will sometimes be just a job description, so it’s important to take the time to get job descriptions right. Make sure that you and any HR employees know how to write a good job description. A description that will put your company’s best foot forward and give your candidates an accurate idea of what to expect will include: the job title, a list of responsibilities, required expectation or experience, necessary skills, and a description of job conditions. [![How to Write the Perfect Job Description](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/c61f2d6b-7010-4a9e-a756-ad87229d66df.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/c61f2d6b-7010-4a9e-a756-ad87229d66df) ## 2. Training and Safety After hiring new employees in order to grow your business, now comes the matter of training them. New employee training is a crucial part of integrating new employees into your business, helping them transition to a new period of their lives as well as fulfilling their new responsibilities as soon as possible. It’s also important for keeping the workplace safe and genial. If training is rushed or mishandled, as it is in many small businesses, your business might experience poor employee performance, high turnover over frustrations, or even safety-related lawsuits. Familiarize yourself with your business’s training policies. Make sure whoever trains new employees is up to date on safety standards and the expectations for the various roles within your company. [![Related Reading: Positive Safety Cultures, Why Every Business Should Build One](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/bfef68fc-c16f-4409-90a4-5f52d1d69712.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/bfef68fc-c16f-4409-90a4-5f52d1d69712) ## 3. Keeping an Up-to-Date Employee Handbook Your business needs to complement its onboarding process with an employee handbook that is regularly updated to reflect the current expectations of your company. Too often small, growing businesses will procrastinate updating their employee handbooks in the rush to maintain other aspects of daily business. If your handbook is outdated, however, you run the risk of misunderstood policies and employee infractions that could lead to lengthy terminations. In the long run, updating your employee handbook will save you stress, employee performance and money. ## 4. Discrimination and Rights Any HR department—no matter how small—needs to know and enforce state and federal laws governing workers’ rights. Some of the most important laws concern discrimination in the workplace. In a misguided effort to focus on routine business matters, many small businesses ignore matters of discrimination far too late—some all the way up until they’re staring at a lawsuit. Take the time to make sure that you are fully knowledgeable about workers’ rights and that you know which immediate steps to take should an issue arise.       ## 5. Conflict Resolution Growing businesses often have internal conflicts over different ideas and personalities between employees. HR personnel for these businesses sometimes are unexperienced with handling these types of conflict and can quickly find themselves overwhelmed. If this is the case with your company, consider running practice conflict resolution scenarios or reaching out to Axcet HR Solutions for training or additional resources. Conflicts may be inevitable, but at least you can prepare for them. ## 6. Benefits One of the primary reasons individuals in the U.S. seek employment is to obtain employment benefits such as healthcare and retirement planning. This means that your company’s offered benefits are crucial for recruitment and attracting qualified candidates. Even once these candidates are hired, though, you and any employee handling HR matters needs to know the ins and outs of your company’s benefits plan if you hope to keep these new employees around. Many small businesses are complacent about their benefits, working hard to acquire a benefits plan, but overlooking the details of implementing the plan later. Regularly educate and work with your employees to make sure they are properly taking advantage of their benefits. [![employee benefits are key when looking to increase employee engagement in the workplace](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/b1ad4081-21a3-4e8b-91e5-9701acd78e91.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/b1ad4081-21a3-4e8b-91e5-9701acd78e91) ## 7. Tracking Employee Behavior Lastly, another consequence of the hectic nature of running a small business is that sometimes owners and managers feel too busy to track employee behavior. This, unfortunately, can lead to myriad issues that will haunt you later. Poor employee performance becomes more difficult to remedy the longer it occurs, and if certain employees are regularly committing safety violations, lawsuits might be in your company’s future. If employees are skipping breaks or working overtime more than they are supposed to, your profit margins might be impacted, and other employees might feel pressured to work more, leading to unnecessary stress. [![Related Reading: 6 Keys to Effective Employee Discipline](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/a23b9474-484b-4630-9731-3816cd3b23e5.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/a23b9474-484b-4630-9731-3816cd3b23e5) Have a talk with managers and supervisors, telling them that these issues are important and affect the future of your company. Make sure that there is always open communication about these issues, and that everyone knows the steps for handling employee behavior issues. [![HR Services Powered by Industry-Certified Professionals](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/interactive-184586106269.png)](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKZWZwvubymVz8RljFzt5VrotLAMrfmQqOtScdjpHMvwZQLWtlU298Otcp66QMdENhYvXdTdOb2Czgh5%2Fy50zXF1pUrBLtYGcyyNMkfi3K7%2B%2FheYalvoMLAjdS42Pr1jGkcEpffcEHtEnHpM2Rt4C7DkAoYrgJZ%2F5FMSMoKMcHtIsRxGLd3YfLuQAyY9mJE9ZtOtMQXPGjC1uLuCOROMCNOO6IdhzuutLaMYos6XiHTdyE1i2CEuojnshbi&webInteractiveContentId=184586106269&portalId=2652187) ## **Build a Resilient HR Foundation with Expert Support** Even with the right strategies in place, HR challenges can still surface unexpectedly. That’s where Axcet HR Solutions comes in. Our experienced team helps small and mid-sized businesses navigate complex HR issues with confidence — from compliance and employee relations to hiring, training, and beyond. 👉 [Explore our full range of HR services](https://www.axcethr.com/services/human-resources/) and let’s create a plan that supports your business growth and peace of mind.   [![Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jeanette-04.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=Jeanette-04.jpg)](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman) Written by #### [Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman) Jeanette Coleman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the Director of Human Resources at Axcet HR Solutions, where she has contributed her expertise for over 21 years. As a leader in the HR industry, she holds advanced certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Jeanette oversees HR strategy and operations, ensuring Axcet delivers exceptional HR services that help small and mid-sized businesses stay compliant and grow. With a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University, Jeanette is well-equipped to lead and support clients in navigating complex HR challenges. Throughout her 15-year tenure as Director of Human Resources, she has been instrumental in positioning Axcet as the Midwest’s largest and premier Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Her previous roles at Axcet include Director of Employee Benefits and Senior HR Consultant, where she gained extensive experience in HR outsourcing, and employee risk management. Jeanette’s expertise has been recognized through industry and regional publications. She co-authored the article “High-Touch in the Age of High-Tech: How PEOs Can Embrace AI Without Losing Their Humanity” (https://peoinsider.org/articles/high-touch-in-the-age-of-high-tech-how-peos-can-embrace-ai-without-losing-their-humanity/) for PEO Insider (March 2026), alongside Jo McClure, and was featured in Ingram’s Magazine in a Q&A (https://ingrams.com/article/qa-with-jeanette-coleman/) discussing generational change, technology, and workplace culture. These contributions reflect her perspective on balancing innovation with the human side of HR. Jeanette’s leadership reflects her deep commitment to helping businesses thrive through strategic, compliance-driven HR solutions. Through her writing, she shares insights on HR strategy, compliance, and best practices to help employers confidently manage their workforce. Published in: PEO Insider and Ingram's Read more [View all posts →](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman) ### Get HR Updates ### Table of Contents ### Related Resources - [services Human Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/services/human-resources/) - [article human resources best practices](https://blog.axcethr.com/beyond-the-water-cooler-7-hr-best-practices-for-small-business-owners) #### [DOL New Overtime Rule Took Effect January 1, 2020 ![dec 5 blog image](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/dec%205%20blog%20image.png)](https://blog.axcethr.com/dol-new-overtime-rule-takes-effect-january-1-2020) #### [![dec 2 blog](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/dec%202%20blog.webp) How to Create an Employee Benefits Package for All Generations](https://blog.axcethr.com/how-to-create-an-employee-benefits-package-for-all-generations) ## Let us know what you think... ![AxcetHR Blog](https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/AxcetHR2021%20Blog/axcethr_logo_white%20(1).png) - [Why Axcet](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/) - [What We Stand For](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/what-we-stand-for/) - [Expertise](https://www.axcethr.com/expertise/) - [Employee Benefits](https://www.axcethr.com/services/employee-benefits/) - [Human Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/services/human-resources/) - [Payroll Services](https://www.axcethr.com/services/payroll-and-tax-administration-services/) - [Risk Management](https://www.axcethr.com/services/workers-comp-and-employee-safety-risk-management/) - [Meet the Team](https://www.axcethr.com/about-us/meet-the-team/) - [Subscribe to Latest Resources](https://www.axcethr.com/subscribe-to-the-latest-resources/) - [Resource Library](https://www.axcethr.com/expertise/resource-library/) - [\[ Client Portal \]](https://www.axcethr.com/client-services/) - - - - - Search for: Copyright © 2023 Axcet HR Solutions – Kansas City's PEO Since 1988 | [Privacy Policy](https://www.axcethr.com/privacy-policy/) | [Terms and Conditions](https://www.axcethr.com/terms-conditions/) | [**Join our Team – Careers »**](https://axcethrsolutions.prismhr-hire.com/) 10975 Grandview Drive Suite 200, Corporate Woods Building 27, Overland Park, KS 66210 | Call us: 913-383-2999 *The IRS does not endorse any particular For more information on [certified professional employer organizations](https://www.axcethr.com/why-axcet/certified-peo/), go to [www.irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov).* Remove cookies ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=43031&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman" }, "dateModified" : "2025-05-01T22:05:27.309Z", "datePublished" : "2019-12-04T19:07:53.000Z", "headline" : "7 Common HR Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Fix Them", "image" : [ "https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/dec%204%20blog%20image.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/7-common-hr-mistakes-small-businesses-make-and-how-to-fix-them", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/_logo_axcethr_primary.png" }, "name" : "Axcet HR Solutions" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.axcethr.com/#organization", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Kansas City", "addressRegion" : "MO" }, "aggregateRating" : { "@type" : "AggregateRating", "bestRating" : "5", "ratingValue" : "5", "reviewCount" : "100" }, "areaServed" : { "@type" : "Country", "name" : "United States" }, "award" : [ "IRS Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO)", "Award-Winning HR Solutions Provider", "SHRM Certified HR Professionals", "HRCI Certified HR Professionals" ], "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "areaServed" : "US", "availableLanguage" : "English", "contactType" : "Customer Service" }, "description" : "Award-winning Professional Employer Organization (PEO) providing comprehensive HR solutions, payroll services, employee benefits, and risk management to small and mid-sized businesses. 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While you’re overseeing one of the many other aspects of running a business, a time might come when your attention is diverted from HR matters. For many small businesses, this can lead to disaster. Fortunately, we have compiled a list of issues you can look out for. 1. Recruitment One of the most important parts of growing a small business is recruitment. Talented, capable new hires are the foundation that the future of your company will rest on. Many small businesses miss out on these new hires, however, because their HR personnel fails to craft well-written, precise job description. Your company’s first impression with job seekers will sometimes be just a job description, so it’s important to take the time to get job descriptions right. Make sure that you and any HR employees know how to write a good job description. A description that will put your company’s best foot forward and give your candidates an accurate idea of what to expect will include: the job title, a list of responsibilities, required expectation or experience, necessary skills, and a description of job conditions. 2. Training and Safety After hiring new employees in order to grow your business, now comes the matter of training them. New employee training is a crucial part of integrating new employees into your business, helping them transition to a new period of their lives as well as fulfilling their new responsibilities as soon as possible. It’s also important for keeping the workplace safe and genial. If training is rushed or mishandled, as it is in many small businesses, your business might experience poor employee performance, high turnover over frustrations, or even safety-related lawsuits. Familiarize yourself with your business’s training policies. Make sure whoever trains new employees is up to date on safety standards and the expectations for the various roles within your company. 3. Keeping an Up-to-Date Employee Handbook Your business needs to complement its onboarding process with an employee handbook that is regularly updated to reflect the current expectations of your company. Too often small, growing businesses will procrastinate updating their employee handbooks in the rush to maintain other aspects of daily business. If your handbook is outdated, however, you run the risk of misunderstood policies and employee infractions that could lead to lengthy terminations. In the long run, updating your employee handbook will save you stress, employee performance and money. 4. Discrimination and Rights Any HR department—no matter how small—needs to know and enforce state and federal laws governing workers’ rights. Some of the most important laws concern discrimination in the workplace. In a misguided effort to focus on routine business matters, many small businesses ignore matters of discrimination far too late—some all the way up until they’re staring at a lawsuit. Take the time to make sure that you are fully knowledgeable about workers’ rights and that you know which immediate steps to take should an issue arise. 5. Conflict Resolution Growing businesses often have internal conflicts over different ideas and personalities between employees. HR personnel for these businesses sometimes are unexperienced with handling these types of conflict and can quickly find themselves overwhelmed. If this is the case with your company, consider running practice conflict resolution scenarios or reaching out to Axcet HR Solutions for training or additional resources. Conflicts may be inevitable, but at least you can prepare for them. 6. Benefits One of the primary reasons individuals in the U.S. seek employment is to obtain employment benefits such as healthcare and retirement planning. This means that your company’s offered benefits are crucial for recruitment and attracting qualified candidates. Even once these candidates are hired, though, you and any employee handling HR matters needs to know the ins and outs of your company’s benefits plan if you hope to keep these new employees around. Many small businesses are complacent about their benefits, working hard to acquire a benefits plan, but overlooking the details of implementing the plan later. Regularly educate and work with your employees to make sure they are properly taking advantage of their benefits. 7. Tracking Employee Behavior Lastly, another consequence of the hectic nature of running a small business is that sometimes owners and managers feel too busy to track employee behavior. This, unfortunately, can lead to myriad issues that will haunt you later. Poor employee performance becomes more difficult to remedy the longer it occurs, and if certain employees are regularly committing safety violations, lawsuits might be in your company’s future. If employees are skipping breaks or working overtime more than they are supposed to, your profit margins might be impacted, and other employees might feel pressured to work more, leading to unnecessary stress. Have a talk with managers and supervisors, telling them that these issues are important and affect the future of your company. Make sure that there is always open communication about these issues, and that everyone knows the steps for handling employee behavior issues. Build a Resilient HR Foundation with Expert Support Even with the right strategies in place, HR challenges can still surface unexpectedly. That’s where Axcet HR Solutions comes in. Our experienced team helps small and mid-sized businesses navigate complex HR issues with confidence — from compliance and employee relations to hiring, training, and beyond. 👉 Explore our full range of HR services and let’s create a plan that supports your business growth and peace of mind.", "author" : { "@id" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman#author", "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP", "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman" }, "dateCreated" : "2019-12-04", "dateModified" : "2025-05-01", "datePublished" : "2019-12-04", "description" : "Axcet HR Solutions knows that the owners and managers of small, growing businesses are busy people. While you’re overseeing one of the many other aspects of running a business, a time might come when your attention is diverted from HR matters. For many small businesses, this can lead to disaster. 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