Author: Elissa Biegen
Many organizations have gaps in their HR practices — some of them significant enough to create compliance issues. Policies, required paperwork and leave rules vary by state and sometimes by county or jurisdiction. Each nuance matters. When important pieces of your HR puzzle are missing, you need a way to spot those pitfalls before they turn into costly problems.
A comprehensive HR assessment performed by a trusted team of HR experts can identify compliance gaps and give you the tools to address them.
Why every organization benefits from an HR assessment
Organizations of all sizes and structures gain value from an HR assessment. You may need one if:
- Your HR manager recently resigned and left behind unresolved issues. An assessment helps you understand what's working, what's missing and what needs immediate attention.
- You don't have a dedicated HR department. An assessment clarifies what's required and what's currently at risk.
- You're a CFO or CEO who needs validation of current HR practices or wants to uncover potential issues before they escalate.
- Your HR team is large and experienced, but you want outside perspective. Even seasoned professionals benefit from expert feedback and benchmarking against best practices.
- Your processes haven't been updated in years. Employment laws evolve quickly, and outdated practices can expose your organization to unnecessary risk.
- You've hired remote employees in multiple states. New laws and regulations require updated processes and documentation.
- HR responsibilities are spread across several individuals. An assessment helps you centralize and standardize the function.
Any of these situations warrant a thorough HR compliance assessment.
What a quality HR assessment evaluates
A strong HR assessment reviews documentation and processes across the entire employee lifecycle — from recruitment and hiring through termination. It evaluates whether each step is efficient, compliant and aligned with best practices.
Key areas include:
- Onboarding
- Performance management
- Disciplinary processes
- Leave of absence administration
- Employee relations
- Employee file compliance
- I-9 documentation
- FLSA classification and wage-and-hour practices
- Employee handbooks and policy updates
- Compensation practices
Because federal, state and local laws differ, compliance can feel overwhelming. A structured assessment brings clarity to what's required and where your organization may be exposed.
How trusted experts conduct HR assessments
When the team at Gallagher partners with clients, we start by understanding how you currently manage HR processes across the employment cycle. We meet with key stakeholders and HR staff to learn what's in place, where gaps exist and what needs improvement.
We then provide clear recommendations to ensure compliance with federal, state and local laws. Our team outlines the actions you need to take and how we can support you — whether through guidance, hands-on assistance or reviewing work after it's completed.
The assessment results in an interactive discussion and a written report detailing:
- Identified gaps and inefficiencies
- The level of risk associated with each issue, including potential financial impact
- A road map to address each gap
- Best practices informed by our experience with more than 2,000 clients
Organizations call on us every month to take a close look under the hood and help fix, fill and adjust gaps in their HR processes. This level of insight helps your organization make informed decisions and strengthen your HR foundation.
How Gallagher can help
We help you strengthen your HR function by identifying compliance risks, improving processes and guiding you toward best practices that support your people and your organization. Connect with our Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness consulting team to learn how we can support your next step.
