Spring Cleaning Your HR Practices with Mrs Hinch
Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to give your HR practices a thorough clean. Whether you need to update your policies, review your contracts, or refresh your employee handbook, there are many tasks that can help you improve your HR function and ensure compliance with the latest legislation.
But where do you start? How do you tackle these tasks without feeling overwhelmed? Well, why not take some inspiration from Mrs Hinch, the Instagram sensation who has made cleaning fun and enjoyable for millions of followers?
Mrs Hinch, or Sophie Hinchliffe rose to fame by sharing her cleaning tips and tricks on social media. She has a loyal fan base, called the Hinch Army, who love her cheerful personality and her clever hacks for making cleaning easy and satisfying.
I’d like to show you how you can apply some of Mrs Hinch’s methods to your HR practices, and make them sparkle like never before. Here are some of the steps you can follow:
Make Your To Do List
Mrs Hinch always starts her cleaning sessions by making a list of the tasks she needs to do. She calls it her “Hinch List” and she uses it to keep track of her progress and motivate herself. You can do the same with your HR practices. Make a list of the areas that need your attention, such as:
- Policies & Procedures
- Recruitment and selection
- Onboarding
- Contracts and terms of employment
- Performance management and appraisal
- Training and development
- Employee relations and engagement
- Health and safety
- Payroll and benefits
- Data protection and GDPR
Make A Plan
Do it in stages. Mrs Hinch does not try to clean her entire house in one go. She breaks it down into smaller sections, such as rooms or areas, and focuses on one at a time. She also does not spend too much time on each task, as she believes that little and often is better than long and exhausting. You can also do your HR tasks in stages. For example, you can review one policy or contract at a time, rather than trying to do them all at once. You can also spend a few minutes each day or week on your HR tasks, rather than leaving them until the last minute.
Gather Your HR Tools
Mrs Hinch has a collection of cleaning products and tools that she uses for different purposes. She calls them her “Hinch Haul” and she stores them in a basket or a caddy for easy access. You can also gather your HR tools and resources that will help you complete your tasks, such as:
- Templates and forms
- Checklists and guides
- Policies and procedures
- Legal updates and best practices
- Software and systems
- External support and advice
Start With The HR Basics
Mrs Hinch always begins her cleaning routine by doing the basic tasks that make a big difference, such as dusting, hoovering, wiping and polishing. She calls them her “Freshen Up Friday” and she does them every week to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. You can also start with the basic HR tasks that are essential for your business. They may not be weekly tasks, but they should be scheduled periodically. Think about tasks such as:
- Updating your contracts and terms of employment to reflect any changes in legislation, regulations or business needs
- Updating your policies & procedures to reflect any changes in legislation, regulations or business needs and best practice
- Reviewing your recruitment and selection process to ensure it is fair, efficient and effective
- Communicating with your employees regularly to keep them informed, involved and engaged
- Ensuring health and safety measures are in place to protect your employees’ well-being
- Complying with data protection and GDPR requirements to safeguard your employees’ personal information
Tackle The HR Practices Deep Clean
Mrs Hinch also does occasional deep cleaning tasks that require more time, effort and attention, such as decluttering, organising, sanitising and disinfecting. She calls them her “Hinching” and she does them whenever she feels like it or when she has a special occasion. You can also tackle the deep HR tasks that will improve your business performance, such as:
- Conducting a skills audit to identify any gaps or needs in your workforce
- Developing a succession plan to prepare for future changes in leadership or key roles
- Implementing a feedback system to collect, analyse and act on employee opinions and suggestions
- Creating an employee recognition program to appreciate and reward your employees for their achievements
- Establishing a culture of learning and innovation to encourage your employees to grow and improve
- Reviewing your employee handbook to ensure it is clear, comprehensive and consistent
- Auditing your HR records to ensure they are complete, accurate and secur
- Creating a behavioural competency framework to underpin recruitment, on-boarding and performance management to help drive the culture you want for your business
Get Help With Your HR
Get help if you need it. Mrs Hinch does not do everything by herself. She sometimes gets help from her husband Jamie, her son Ronnie, or her friends and family. She also asks for advice or recommendations from her followers or experts when she is unsure about something. You can also get help if you need it for your HR tasks. You do not have to be an expert on everything related to HR. You can ask for guidance or support from your peers, mentors, networks, or professional bodies.
Or better yet, you can hire me as your freelance HR consultant! I can help you with all your HR needs, from reviewing and updating your documents and processes, to providing advice on best practice and delivering HR projects.
By engaging me as your freelance HR consultant, you will save yourself time and hassle, and free up your resources to focus on other aspects of running your business. This is especially beneficial if you do not have any dedicated internal HR resource.
I have around 25 years of experience in HR management across various sectors and industries. I have a passion for helping small businesses grow and thrive by providing them with effective and efficient HR solutions.
If you are interested in working with me as your freelance HR consultant, please get in touch with me today. I would love to hear from you and discuss how I can help you spring clean your HR practices.
Enjoy The Results!
Mrs Hinch always ends her cleaning sessions by admiring the results of her hard work. She uses this time to relax, unwind and enjoy her home. You can also enjoy the results of your HR spring cleaning by:
- Celebrating your successes with your employees
- Sharing your best practices with other businesses
- Evaluating your outcomes and impact
- Planning your next steps
