Issue 102: How to Bootstrap Your HR

In fall of 2017, I published a Medium post (remember when we were all on Medium?) that launched Bright + Early. It was in response to a common question I was getting from seed to series-A stage founders: how long can I go without HR, and what can I do myself? They didn’t know what they didn’t know, and they were scared to get it wrong. This blog post, called “How to Bootstrap Your Startup’s HR (and When Not To)” got major traction, becoming a common share in founder support slacks and VC resource decks. We started working with orgs who were too small for a full HR team but wanted to get things right, and the rest was history.

5 years later, the People function generally has more of a seat at the table, even early stage. Having gone through the shift to remote work, health scares, and “the great resignation”, founders recognize the value of good HR advice. Lately though, with the winds shifting towards the dreaded tech downturn, we’re seeing more founders trying to stay lean and go without HR. Maybe they think it’s just a bit of admin work they can handle on their own, or the budget simply isn’t there. While there are some tools, tips and hacks you can use to bootstrap your People programs, there are some things you’ll need a professional’s eye on. So, we’ve updated that resource, which is linked below and chock-full of best practices you can put into place today, no matter your budget.

If it’s time for an HR makeover and you do need a professional touch, we’re currently booking for our spring/summer cohort. Spots are limited, so if you’re ready to build something cool together, just hit reply or fill out this form.

Stay Bright,

Nora

Bright Reads

• Have compensation on your agenda this year? Our very own Trisha is hosting a free webinar with Humi on April 19th on how to build the first version of your salary bands.

• That thing bosses do where they try to solve bad engagement with a pizza party? Turns out it’s nothing new.

• What if your work crush was embarrassingly revealed? For this couple, it ended up working out. (For a realistic take on how to deal with a workplace crush or romance, see our guide from March)

• Companies are hiring high priced consultants who promise to convince their employees to return to the office.

• On May 3, Accelerate Her Future is holding a virtual discussion on the experiences of racialized women at work, and how workplaces can do better.

Coming Up

• Ramadan continues to April 20

• April 22 is Earth Day

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