Business owners have to make lots of important decisions to keep their companies afloat. One of these decisions revolves around whether to hire an HR consultant or an employment lawyer.
Both HR consultants and employment lawyers can help business owners in a number of ways but there are key differences between these two types of professionals. If you’re a business owner, knowing these differences will help you to make the best hiring decisions if you need HR support in the future.
Business owners wanting to outsource their HR duties might by unsure of who is the most suitable professional to hire. Do they hire a lawyer or a consultant for advice and guidance?
Below, we’re going to cover the main roles of HR consultants and employment lawyers, and they can help your business.
What Does an HR Consultant Do?
Your HR department is an essential part of your business. It’s not just about recruiting people for your company.
Without a well-functioning HR ensures that the rest of your business runs smoothly and your employees are content in the workplace. HR consultants can oversee the rest of your HR team and they have extensive experience managing teams of employees.
HR consultants often take a proactive approach. Thanks to their experience working directly with staff, they aren’t afraid to face the many common challenges of the HR department.
Consultants in HR will be able to guide you when it comes to recruiting top talent and hire remote staff in your business or dismissing existing employees. They may also be able to help with the creation of workplace policies in compliance with employment and my able laws.
Ultimately, when you hire an HR consultant, they become an integral part of your business. They are almost an extension of your existing team of HR staff. They can work in an office to aid with daily tasks and issues.
What Does an Employment Lawyer Do?
An employment lawyer is a type of attorney that has specialist knowledge in employment laws. Unlike HR consultants, they have extensive knowledge about the complex legislation that you need to follow as an employer. They will ensure that you comply with all legislation to mitigate legal risks.
Employment lawyers can provide advice on workplace policies and help you to draft your employee and client contracts to ensure there are no loopholes. They can also deal with litigation if there is an issue with one of your clients or staff members.
If one of your employees has filed a legal claim against you, an employment lawyer will be necessary to help you navigate this. They can represent you in court if necessary to minimize financial losses or reputation damage in the event of a claim.
Generally, employment lawyers will cost more money to hire than HR consultants but they can provide specialized support when you need it. If you require general advice and day-to-day help, you may not need an employment lawyer and an HR consultant would suffice.