Author name: Focus HR

Innovative Employee Benefits—On a Small Business Budget

As a small business leader, you might have heard about the latest employee benefit trends—mental health programs, virtual care, even gut health support—and think, “Sounds great, but not in my budget.”  We get it. But here’s the reality: your benefit offerings may be more important than you think. According to recent surveys: In a tight […]

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How Nonprofits Can Win the War for Talent

Attracting and retaining top talent has never been more challenging—or more critical—for nonprofit organizations. In a recent two-part webinar hosted by Raise the Bar Consulting’s Jennifer Tersigni, Clint Parry of Focus HR offered practical, research-backed guidance on how nonprofits can overcome these challenges and build thriving workplaces. Whether you joined the live sessions or are

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Independent Contractor Rules Just Shifted Again — What Small Businesses Need to Know

On May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it will no longer enforce the Biden administration’s 2024 independent contractor rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). For small businesses, this marks another change in a confusing, fast-evolving area of compliance. Let’s unpack what this means, what guidance is in effect now,

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Small Business Talent in 2025: 6 Shifts You Can’t Ignore

The game has changed for attracting and keeping top talent. Korn Ferry’s Workforce 2025 report, surveying over 15,000 professionals, paints a clear picture: small businesses face unprecedented pressures from evolving employee expectations, the rise of AI, and widening generational divides. Ignoring these shifts is no longer an option.  Here are six key areas where small

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Coaching, Not Commanding: How Small Business Leaders Can Motivate Gen Z Employees

Gen Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—are no longer just interns or junior hires. They’ve officially overtaken Baby Boomers in the workforce, and a new wave of graduates is arriving this spring.  If you’re a small business owner or manager struggling to “click” with younger employees, it’s not because they’re lazy, entitled, or disengaged. It’s

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Insights from the Arizona Commerce Authority Small Business Boot Camp featuring Clint Parry, MBA, SHRM-SCP

In today’s competitive business environment, talent is your biggest asset—and your biggest risk. In a recent Small Business Boot Camp session hosted by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Clint Parry, Focus HR’s Business Development Manager, delivered a timely and insightful presentation: “Optimize HR: Your Key to Secure Top Talent & Growth.” The session unpacked the most

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How Small Businesses Can Tackle 2025’s Biggest Workplace Challenges

As we move further into 2025, business owners continue to face a workplace climate that’s more complex than ever. Gallup’s recent report, 7 Workplace Challenges for 2025, paints a stark picture: employee engagement is at an 11-year low, wellbeing has plummeted, and the gap between leadership intent and employee perception is widening. For small business

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How to Foster Resonant Leadership—and Why It Matters More Than Ever

Imagine a workplace where energy is high, collaboration flows effortlessly, and challenges are met with united strength.  Now, contrast that with the all-too-common scenario: a team trudging through tasks, morale dipping with every demanding email, and talent quietly slipping out the door.  The difference between these two realities isn’t just strategy or systems—it’s the human

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

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

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

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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