Small Business HR Resources & HR Video Library

Summer internship season is here, and I’ve been hearing this a lot from founders and small business owners: “They just want experience.” “They volunteered.” “They’re on OPT.” “We’re not paying them, but they’re okay with it.” In California, unpaid internships can create real wage and hour risk if the intern is doing productive work for the business. In this week’s episode, I’m breaking down why “they agreed to work for free” is not always enough — and what employers should be careful about before bringing on an unpaid intern. Drama-free HR starts with setting things up correctly from the beginning. #DramaFreeHR #CaliforniaHR #UnpaidInterns #HRCompliance #SmallBusiness #StartupFounder #HumanResources #PeopleOperations

Hiring your first employee is exciting—but it's also one of the most important decisions you'll make as a founder. In this week's episode, I share a few practical tips and common mistakes to avoid when hiring your first U.S. employee, from defining the role to laying the right HR and compliance foundation from day one. A little preparation now can save a lot of headaches later. Have you hired your first employee yet? What was your biggest challenge?

Employment Attorney vs. HR Consultant , what’s the difference? Attorneys help protect your business when legal risk comes up. HR consultants help build the people systems that prevent issues from becoming bigger problems. Growing businesses often need both. Legal protects. HR prevents, supports, and builds.

Biz owners… DIY HR. Why? 😅 I get it — when you’re growing a business, you wear every hat. But at some point, handling HR “as things come up” stops being scrappy and starts becoming risky. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 signs your business may have outgrown DIY HR — from messy employee files to unclear policies, inconsistent onboarding, and reactive people management. Because DIY HR works… until it doesn’t. Build the structure before the drama.

Gossip may seem harmless, but it can quickly damage trust, morale, and team culture. In this episode, we’re talking about how leaders can address gossip early, without drama, fear, or overreaction.

A great resume does not always mean a great hire. Founders who hire consciously know that long-term team success depends on more than skill alone. Let’s talk about why alignment matters more than most businesses realize.