Adecco Australia has released a range of Outsourced Human Resources (OHR) offerings covering the full spectrum of HR services that are traditionally provided by workplace lawyers. Adecco expects its new offering to reduce dramatically, if not halve, the legal costs incurred by SMEs.

The OHR offerings reportedly provide tailored solutions that enable SMEs to build their HR capability and expertise without incurring prohibitive legal costs. 

From the standard to boutique packages, the offerings range from the basics of employment contracts and employee handbooks to tailored anti-bullying policies. They also cover equal employment and sexual harassment issues, employee performance frameworks, gender diversity initiatives, and enterprise bargaining for the manufacturing and logistics sector, and compliance with award wages.

According to Chris Turner, Adecco’s General Manager of Industrial Relations in Australia and New Zealand and Director of Adecco:OHR: “Despite the potential for huge costs for non-compliance, many SMEs are not aware of just how close to the wind they are when it comes to complying with the industrial relations and HR regulatory framework in Australia which continues to grow in complexity.”

“Last year alone the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) received more than seven million website visits and assisted 20,000 people with complaints, and the Fair Work Commission website received more than three million visits and 120,000 unfair dismissal eligibility enquiries. We are also seeing record judgements for damages and compensation being awarded.”

“And even if SMEs are aware of their compliance and employee obligations, our experience and research indicates that the legal costs and lost time incurred in putting in place the correct policies, procedures, frameworks and training are prohibitive for many – and that is what really drove us to launching this new A:OHR offering – linking HR/IR experts with industry experience and expertise to provide real support and allow SMEs to get on with what they do best - running their business.” Mr Turner added.

“There is no aspect of the HR legal and performance services that these packages do not offer,” Mr Turner advised.

“And that is not our only differentiator.  Unlike most HR consulting firms or workplace relations lawyers, Adecco’s 50 year history as the world’s number one recruitment company gives us a unique insight how to manage the recruiting and staffing needs of business in such a way that the best interests of the business are protected at all times and this is reflected in the OHR packages we are offering.”

“The last thing any business needs in this challenging environment is a costly and emotionally draining industrial relations dispute or an unfair dismissal or EEO claim that cannot be reliably defended.” he concluded.