Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/287259
Inside AED 8 | www.cedmag.com | Construction Equipment Distribution | April 2014 Who do you call if you have a human resources question or problem? If you don't know or are looking for another option, you now can call AED's HR Help Desk: 888-412-8079. The Desk is being manned by Karla Dobbeck and her associates at Human Resource Techniques Inc., based in Algonquin, Ill. Dobbeck says 80 percent of the calls she typically receives are for problems that could have been avoided by taking some preventative measures. "Any employment issue, if handled poorly, can lead to lawsuits and uninten- tional consequences," she cautioned. Dobbeck believes small and midsize businesses without professional human resources personnel often don't know where to turn for help dealing with employment issues. That's why AED's new HR Help Desk should be very beneficial to many AED members. "Karla provides members the unique opportunity to access a human resource profes- sional without the cost of having one on staff," said AED President and CEO Brian McGuire. "For those members that do have trained HR profes- sionals it gives them a peer to reach out to." Through the Help Desk AED members can get an answer to a simple question on many employment-related issues free of charge. Customized specific HR services are also available to AED member companies at a discounted rate of $125 per hour. Services include employment law auditing, which evaluates your company's compliance with many federal and state employment laws; policy and handbook development and review; performance management and employee development. Employee recruitment and selection is another area of focus for the HR Help Desk. Human Resource Techniques Inc. is able to work with distributors in all 50 states. If an employment issue requires an attorney, the AED Help Desk will advise clients appropriately and may be able to refer dealers to an employment attorney. "In my short time here, one of the things I have heard from several members is that they have a need to either update their employee handbooks, or are in need of an employee handbook," said McGuire. "Karla offers an opportunity to get that done." Ditch Witch Midwest wanted to review and update their employee handbook for years, but it just kept getting pushed to the back burner, primarily because of the time needed to complete it. They welcomed the opportunity to have Human Resource Techniques review the handbook and were pleased with the service. "It's nice to have someone that we can trust to turn the handbook over to, make sure we are compliant, and not have to worry about it," said Mark Harbaugh, president. "The price they quoted was reasonable and from a time aspect, it was a huge savings." "For smaller companies, without an internal human resources depart- ment, we can be used on an ongoing basis, when- ever a question comes up, or if a company needs help working through a touchy situation," said Dobbeck. "Larger companies might want to use us on a project basis for employee training." On the company's website – www.askhrt.com – AED members can find a wealth of HR resources including downloadable federal labor posters, as well as forms related to healthcare, taxes, The Family and Medical Leave Act, immigration, and OSHA. Clear communication is a key part of Dobbeck's philoso- phy and is applied to all aspects of the company's HR services. "I firmly believe if you communicate your expec- tations clearly you are going to have better results," said Dobbeck. Dobbeck holds a Human Resources Professional (HRP) designation from the Human Resources Accreditation Trusted human resources advice is now just a phone call away. Introducing AED's New HR Help Desk Proposed New Members This list is published each month as required by AED bylaws. Comments on the applicants should be directed to AED President and CEO Brian McGuire 800-388-0650, ext. 326. Townline Equipment Sales, Inc. Plainfield, N.H. Fairchild Equipment Green Bay, Wis. Your AED Membership Pays Off – Again What: New HR Help Desk is a free Q&A service for members What Else: Customized HR services at an AED discounted rate Who: Karla Dobbeck at Human Resource Techniques Where: All 50 states How: Call 888-412-8079 8_inside AED_KP.indd 8 3/27/14 4:21 PM