Employees ... they are our greatest asset, and can be our biggest liability.  No matter the company size, if you've got employees, you've got employee issues.  And how you handle those issues can dictate the success or failure of your businesses!

Exposure to unlawful dismissal suits are a reality for our members today.  Did you know that there are over $250,000 in suits filed in Canada each year?  And over 70% are won by the employee - primarily because the employer didn't know how to properly manage the employment process legally.

Government Agencies, like Health & Safety, are also a growing concern.  Canadian Labour Law dictates the standards to which each company - regardless of size - must meet.  But small business owners often don't have the time or expertise to meet those standards, and the result can be hefty fines levied by Health & Safety auditors.

Workers' Compensation is an area that most business owners know little about - resulting in sky high premiums when an employee is injured at work.  Unfortunately, this is a system routinely abused by employees and Healthcare Professionals alike - and can cost you tens of thousands of dollars!

Large corporations know this...so they invest in an entire department, dedicated to managing employee issues.  But as small business owners, we can't afford the $65,000 - $80,000 salaries that HR Professional earn!  So what's the solution?

Recently, we formed an Alliance with First Call.  They are a Canadian company working with the small business community to provide the expertise in all the areas mentioned above, and they have agreed to provide full scale HR solutions to each of our members at a discounted rate.  For just $8.50 per employee per month, they will assign an HR Manager to your company and manage all your employee issues.  And if you enroll online, you will receive your first month free!

I strongly encourage you to visit their website - www.firstcallhr.ca/chamber - and view their informative video.  We signed up the West Nipissing Chamber office and have seen, first hand, what a difference proper HR practices can make for the running of our business...and we want the same for you!