HR Resources: When a Full-Time Person Doesn’t Make Sense

Not every business needs a full-time HR manager. That might sound counterintuitive, especially if you’ve been told that HR is a must-have department from day one. But for many small to mid-sized businesses, hiring a full-time HR employee just doesn’t make sense.

Maybe you’ve been handling HR tasks yourself, or you’ve delegated them to an office manager wearing a dozen hats. Maybe you’ve hit a point where HR is starting to take up more time, but not enough to justify a full hire. So what’s the middle ground?

That’s where outsourced HR resources come in.

Let’s talk about the scenarios where bringing in outside HR support makes more sense than hiring someone full-time, and what your options really are.

When Does a Full-Time HR Hire Not Make Sense?

1. You Don’t Have Enough HR Work to Fill 40 Hours

Let’s start with the obvious. If HR tasks only take up 10-15 hours a week, hiring a full-time HR generalist means you’re paying for a lot of idle time, or stretching your budget thin just to fill a position that isn’t needed yet. Some common signs?

• You only hire a few new employees a year
• You don’t have constant policy updates or compliance concerns
• You can handle benefits enrollment in one focused sprint

In these cases, a full-time person just isn’t cost-effective.

2. You’re In Growth Mode, But Not There Yet

Startups and growing companies often experience spurts of HR needs. Maybe you just raised funding or signed a few big clients and are ready to staff up—but hiring a full-time HR professional before revenue catches up can be a risky move.

In these situations, temporary or fractional HR support helps bridge the gap until it makes sense to build out your team internally.

3. Your HR Needs Are Specialized (and Expensive)

HR is more than just onboarding and time-off requests. There are legal, financial, and compliance aspects that require real expertise, especially if you operate across states or industries with strict regulations.

Rather than paying a six-figure salary for that knowledge, many companies find it more practical to bring in experts on a part-time or as-needed basis.

Your Options: HR Help Without the Full-Time Hire

The good news? You don’t have to do everything yourself, and you don’t have to commit to a full-time salary either. There are flexible HR resources that scale with your needs.

Outsourced HR Providers

Outsourcing your HR tasks means handing off things like:

• Employee handbooks and policy development

• Hiring and onboarding support

• Compliance monitoring

• Employee relations and conflict resolution

Many providers offer tiered service levels, so you only pay for what you need.

PEOs (Professional Employer Organizations)

If you're looking for something more all-inclusive, a PEO might be a good fit. These companies essentially co-employ your staff, taking on HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance. You maintain day-to-day control while outsourcing the administrative load.

This can be especially helpful if you're trying to offer better employee benefits without being a large company.

HR Consulting or Fractional HR Support

Don’t need someone all the time, but still want a go-to expert? Fractional HR support is perfect for companies that need strategy and guidance without the full commitment. These consultants can help with:

• Writing job descriptions

• Structuring compensation plans

• Conducting workplace investigations

• Ensuring compliance with labor laws

It’s like having an HR expert in your back pocket.

HR Software + Payroll Support

Sometimes, the right combination of technology and support is all you need. Cloud-based HR tools can automate everything from onboarding to benefits administration, and when paired with a payroll partner like Horizon Payroll Solutions, you get added expertise on tax filing, employee classifications, and more.

How Horizon Payroll Can Help

At Horizon Payroll Solutions, we work with companies just like yours, ones that don’t need a full-time HR hire but still want smart, reliable support.

Whether you’re looking for guidance on labor laws, help crafting an employee handbook, or tools that make onboarding and timekeeping easier, we can help you build a scalable, compliant HR system that fits your business.

We offer:

• Payroll + HR software integration

• Time and attendance tools

• HR compliance support

• Employee handbook reviews

• Dedicated customer service (real humans!)

Because sometimes, what you really need isn’t more people. You just need the right partner.

Smarter HR Support Without the Overhead

If you’re spending too much time on HR tasks, but not enough to hire someone full-time, it might be time to rethink your approach. With outsourced HR resources, you get flexibility, expertise, and peace of mind without the burden of an in-house hire.

Let Horizon Payroll Solutions show you how easy and affordable it can be to get the HR support you need, when you need it.

Ready to talk? Contact us today and let’s make HR easier.

This content does not constitute legal advice and does not address federal, state or local law.