Author name: Focus HR

When Benefits Go Sideways: The Hidden Risk of Broker-Led Benefits Administration

Leave a Comment / Employee Benefits /

Benefits are supposed to be… well, beneficial. But when benefits administration happens in silos—especially when third-party brokers manage the process separately from your core HR and payroll systems—things can quietly go wrong. And the consequences aren’t just administrative. They can affect employee paychecks, tax filings, and even trust in your organization. During a recent onboarding […]

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Building a Positive Workplace Culture: Strategies for Small Teams

Leave a Comment / HR Outsourcing /

As a small business owner, you’re focused on the bottom line – sales, growth, profit. But what if there was a more powerful lever that can boost all of those? There is. It’s your workplace culture!  Forget just chasing productivity; building a positive culture is the foundation for a truly innovative, profitable, and growing business.

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The Danger of One Employee Controlling Payroll & Accounting: How to Protect Your Business

Payroll Services /

It’s a scenario no business owner wants to think about—a trusted employee slowly siphoning money from the company, manipulating records, and covering their tracks for years. But these aren’t just rare, sensationalized stories. They happen far more often than you might expect, and small businesses are the most vulnerable. What do all these cases have

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Navigating the Tightrope: Securing Your Nonprofit’s Future Amidst Federal Funding Freeze

Payroll Services /

As a nonprofit leader, you’re no stranger to the challenges of securing funding. You’ve weathered tight budgets, grant cycles, and shifting priorities before. But the recent wave of federal funding cuts, triggered by President Trump’s Executive Order: Reevaluating and Realigning United States, represents a new level of uncertainty. This isn’t just a bump in the

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AI Use In the Workplace: Practical Advice for Small Businesses

Payroll Services /

As of 2025, over three-quarters (77%) of businesses are already using artificial intelligence (AI) or exploring its various potential use cases. And despite the fact that robust AI tools are often associated with major corporations, the reality is that any business can benefit from the technology. The question, then, is a matter of knowing how

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Navigating HR & Employment Changes Under the New Administration: What Small Businesses Need to Know

HR Compliance /

With the new Trump administration taking office, small business owners across the U.S. are preparing for potential shifts in HR policies, employment regulations, and workplace compliance. As policy shifts take shape, businesses should prepare for changes in labor laws, healthcare, and taxation. At Focus HR, we help small business owners stay informed and adapt to

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Overcoming Small Business Objections to Outsourcing HR: A Conversation with Clint Parry

HR Outsourcing /

For small business owners, handling HR in-house can seem like the most natural and cost-effective choice. I get it. Even from the early days of my career in helping build Xerox’s outsourcing service, I saw firsthand how businesses clung to traditional approaches, even when it wasn’t serving them best. But here’s the reality: as small

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The HR Challenges Holding Small Businesses Back in 2025—And How to Overcome Them

HR Outsourcing /

Running a small business has never been easy, but in 2025, the challenges are greater than ever. Between rising costs, increasing complexity, and the ongoing struggle to engage and retain employees, business owners are stretched thin.  Historically, HR has been a fragmented landscape – a mix of DIY solutions, multiple providers for different HR functions

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Legal Considerations for Hiring and Firing in Small Businesses

HR Compliance /

As a small business owner, the government is involved in numerous aspects of your business, including hiring and firing employees. Not knowing and following labor laws and regulations can result in costly lawsuits and fines, reputational damage, and low morale in the workplace.  Whether you’re developing new policies or want to decrease your compliance risk,

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SECURE Act 2.0: A Lifeline for Domestic Violence Survivors (and Why it Should Matter to Every Small Business Owner)

Employee Benefits /

As small business owners, we wear many hats. We’re not just managing day-to-day operations; we’re also responsible for the well-being of our employees. And while the SECURE Act 2.0 has garnered attention for its retirement savings provisions, a less-discussed but incredibly vital component focuses on supporting victims of domestic violence. This provision could significantly impact

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Hiring Different Generations (Tips and Tricks for Retention)

HR Outsourcing /

Navigating a multigenerational workforce is more of an art than a science. From seasoned Baby Boomers to the tech-native Gen Z, each generation brings a unique mix of values and workplace preferences.  Here’s how you can master the art of attracting and retaining a diverse team, ensuring a workplace that buzzes with productivity and harmony.

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Effective Employee Onboarding: Strategies to Boost Retention and Productivity

HR Outsourcing /

The onboarding process is foundational to the employee experience, laying the groundwork for productivity, engagement, and loyalty. It sets the tone and informs so much of the employee’s initial impressions of your business. It’s a harsh truth, but most companies aren’t onboarding new employees effectively. Gallup finds that a staggering 88% of employees feel their

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