Question 7: Why shouldn't I perform this comprehensive program by my own HR employees?

You may choose to perform this comprehensive program by your HR employees. There are three reasons for considering contracting out this program: (1) HRCRRA’s expertise; (2) the cost; and (3) the inherent conflict of using in house personnel

With respect to the HRCRRA’s expertise, you may wish to review the resume of Steven Angel. For almost thirty years Steven Angel was involved in employment litigation. During that time, he has litigated a myriad of fact patterns and claims. It is that experience that allows HRCRRA to evaluate and recommend actions that will minimize the potential for litigation.

In terms of the cost, HRCRRA provides a comprehensive Employee Relations Program for a lower fee than would be required to employ someone of similar expertise. That is, the estimated cost of a full time employee with an expertise level equivalent to that provided by HRCRRA is over $300,000 per annum in wages and benefits. The flat fee charged for the comprehensive program is substantially less than this fee.

In addition, HRCRRA is not intended to replace your Human Resources or Personnel department. There remains the daily management of human resources which must be performed in house. Rather, HRCRRA’s comprehensive program is designed to establish policy, and monitor compliance with that policy, in order to limit the client’s potential litigation exposure. In order to perform these services in-house, the client would need to expand its employment at substantially higher cost than is required to contract with HRCRRA.

Finally, the use of an independent contractor provides an important element of this comprehensive policy. Too often, use of in house HR personnel to conduct investigations of alleged management wrongdoing has resulted in the failure to prevent future litigation. In short, it is difficult for in-house staff employees to make recommendations about the behavior of “line” employees.