The Cost vs. Value Dilemma
We get it—budgets are tight, and there are always urgent priorities competing for attention. For many businesses, HR support feels like something to consider later, when things settle down, or when a clear issue arises.
But here’s the reality: waiting until there’s a problem often means facing higher costs, greater risks, and unnecessary stress. A small investment in HR now can prevent major headaches down the line.
The Hidden Costs of Inaction
Many organisations only realise the value of expert HR support when something goes wrong. Here are some of the most common (and costly) consequences of delaying HR investment:
1. Legal Costs & Compliance Risks
Employment law is complex, and non-compliance can lead to severe financial penalties. A poorly handled disciplinary process, an outdated contract, or an unfair dismissal claim can result in costly legal battles.
Even something as seemingly straightforward as an employee handbook, if not created, updated and embedded in your organisation effectively, can lead to serious issues.
The employee handbook is the foundation of the relationship between the employer and the employee, and gives the organisation a guide for how processes and policies should be handled, and outlines any obligations and expectations for the organisation’s people.
From on-the-spot fines (check out this podcast) to serious issues occurring due to a lack of understanding, missing this “simple step” can cost the organisation far more than the investment in getting this right.
Check out this recent chat we had with a long-term client who outlined how we supported them through compliance and everything else, in our long-standing relationship.
2. Reputational Damage & Talent Drain
A single HR issue can also have long-lasting reputational consequences. Poor handling of workplace disputes, harassment claims, or redundancies can lead to negative press, bad employer branding, and difficulty attracting top talent.
Many of us see the sheer amount of WRC headlines that circulate in the news every single day, with the mistakes of employers and organisations exposed for all to see.
In a tight labour market and a war for talent, the last thing any growing company needs is to see their brand tarnished by one costly mistake, with their credibility taking a hit, and their attractiveness as a place to work being seriously damaged.
And yes, if you’re on the radar of the WRC for one big issue, you can be sure that they’ll be keeping an eye on you to ensure compliance thereafter too. So save yourself the stress, pressure and brand damage by investing in proactive and preventative support!
3. More stress, less success
And last but not least, we know that so many of you in the HR world are already busy with the huge remit that falls under people management. The last thing you need is another massive piece of work landing on your desk, leaving you under more pressure to resolve a pressing situation, with minimal support and minimal resources.
That’s where the experts come in. Although there is always a cost to getting support from the experts (such as our Workplace Investigations Team), there may be so many other costs to tackle if you choose to take a serious issue like in investigation on yourself!
· Lost time – Managing a project or challenge as big as a workplace investigation, for example, takes a huge amount of time. From conducting interviews, to writing reports, to managing other aspects like training and mediation, these issues can blow a to-do list wide open, leaving you and your organisation with no choice but to commit someone fully to solving a case.
· Stress – Notwithstanding a lack of skills and experience in conducting something like an investigation, even if you are up to the job, these situations can be very heated and intense, especially where things like bullying, sexual harassment or theft are concerned.
· Internal relationships – People are naturally sceptical too, so if you’re conducting an investigation internally, no matter how impartial you aim to keep it, there will always be that suspicion from the aggrieved parties and accusations that you were “taking sides” or “couldn’t be trusted”. This is something that external support can almost completely remove, as everyone will be assured that external investigators are completely impartial.
· Financial cost – And last but not least, imagine if after you’ve gone through the process and made it through the other side, you realise you missed something or made a small mistake? Understandably too, if you don’t have the experience or skills in doing something that, thankfully, doesn’t happen every day. You may then be faced with a WRC headline still, and a fine, to boot.
The ROI of Proactive HR Investment
Rather than viewing HR as a cost, successful companies see it as an investment that protects their business and enhances growth. Here’s how:
- HR Compliance Audits: Identify risks before they become costly legal problems.
- Workplace Investigations: Ensure fair and legally sound resolutions to disputes.
- Manager Training: Equip leaders with the skills to prevent HR issues before they escalate.
- Retained HR Support: Get ongoing expert guidance to navigate complex HR challenges.
How to Make HR Services Affordable for Your Business
If budget constraints are a concern, consider:
- Flexible Retainer Plans: Spread the cost over time for ongoing expert HR support. We offer contracts without long-term commitment terms and strict conditions, simply giving you support when you need it most and for as long as you need it.
- One-Off Services: Prioritise critical areas like investigations or compliance audits. Our team can be of huge support on a project basis for these larger projects. For example, take a look at how we supported a company with their recent redundancy program.
- Training & Prevention: Invest in management training to reduce costly issues down the line. Prevention is better than cure!
We don’t believe in HR for the sake of HR. We believe in HR that delivers real business value – helping you avoid crises, protect your company, and create a thriving workplace.
Spend 30 minutes chatting to us now, instead of spending thousands later!
HR challenges don’t wait until budgets are ready. The best time to invest in HR is before a problem arises. Let’s discuss how we can help safeguard your business in a cost-effective way.
Let’s chat about how we can safeguard your business in a way that fits your needs and budget!
