With nearly 40,000 hours of HR experience under her belt, the two highest professional certifications in human resources, SPHR and SHRM-SCP, and a Master of Jurisprudence degree in Labor and Employment Law, she was ready and able to launch a company designed to help business owners, executives, and managers tackle the complex, and not so complex, human resources challenges they face on a daily basis.
Located in Frederick County, HR Answerbox is exactly what its name implies–the place you can go to get all of your HR questions, concerns, and conundrums figured out. Haddaway specializes in resolving difficult employee relations situations, designing and facilitating interactive training solutions, and advising small businesses on how to effectively manage their human capital.
If you’ve had the pleasure of spending any time in one of Haddaway’s sessions, you know that she is a fount of information that bubbles up from her passion. As stressful and confusing as human resources and employment law is to most of us, Haddaway is someone who seems to truly enjoy what she does and her knowledge and expertise in the field are apparent.
HR Answerbox clients say they love working with Haddaway because she listens–she responds to your specific employee problems to create a tailored approach to help your business deal with the issue you are facing–she is highly responsive and eagerly devotes quality time to each project, and she is solutions and results oriented–leaving her clients with exactly what they need to manage their human resources issues efficiently and effectively.
We sat down with Haddaway in her home office and got a few burning HR questions answered for you.
3 Truths and A Lie About Your Human Resources with Amanda Haddaway from HR Answerbox
Truth: You really do need an employee handbook.
The handbook becomes the central repository for policies on how we do things and why we do things.It’s also a great reference tool for managers and employees. Handbooks should be updated at least annually and perhaps sooner if there are changes to the law.
Truth: You need more than a policy, you need to provide real education to your employees about sexual harassment.
Train your managers; train your employees. As simple as it may sound, there needs to be a discussion around what is and isn’t appropriate workplace behavior. As a larger part of this conversation, you need to get people talking about workplace culture. Having just a policy isn’t enough to stop or prevent harassment and discrimination. Not sure where to start? We can help.
Truth: Remote work forces are our new reality, and they can be beneficial to you.
Having a completely or partially remote workforce is the new reality for many businesses. Many remote workers report being more productive when they are away from the corporate offices because there are less distractions and they are better able to focus. If you’re thinking about allowing employees to work remotely, think about policies and procedures, as well as the technology tools they will need to be successful.
Lie: Small businesses with just a few employees don’t need HR Answerbox.
HR Answerbox works with small business owners and managers on creating compliant human resources functions, solving day-to-day employee problems, providing interactive training solutions and giving you peace of mind.
HR Answerbox is able to assist you with your HR needs on an as needed, just in time model. We work with you as a strategic partner to guide and advise you on important HR and human capital management initiatives. This could include being available for employee relations questions, general HR concerns, compliance with state and federal laws, etc. Support can be provided on-site, via phone and/or email. We also provide training solutions. Some of our most popular topics include anti-harassment, respect in the workplace, manager training, interviewer training, managing remote workers and many other custom-developed topics on HR and management.
About Amanda Haddaway: Amanda Haddaway is the managing director and lead consultant and trainer for HR Answerbox, a boutique consultancy focused on solving the people problems that business owners, executives and managers face on a daily basis. Amanda has nearly 40,000 hours of experience in human resources. She specializes in resolving difficult employee relations situations, designing and facilitating interactive training solutions and advising small businesses on how to effectively manage their human capital.
She holds the two highest professional certifications in human resources, SPHR and SHRM-SCP, as well as a Master of Jurisprudence degree in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane University Law School, a Master’s degree from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University.
Amanda is a national speaker and a published author of two books and numerous articles. She serves as the director for the Maryland SHRM State Council and the chairperson for the Frederick County Workforce Development Board. She is an adjunct instructor at Montgomery College and a trainer for the Society for Human Resource Management.
Amanda serves as lead consultant and trainer. She is also available to conduct workplace investigations, serve as an expert witness, and provide media interviews.
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