HR News and Tips

The workplace has changed more in the past five years than in the two decades before it: Remote work became the norm overnight. Mental health is now an absolute must to consider in HR protocols. Employees are starting to ask harder (and valid) questions about pay equity. AI is also now being involved in hiring and business processes. We can go on and on. Business owners, it's time to stop treating HR as a back-office function. It is the backbone of your business. A solid set of updated HR policies protects you legally, helps you attract (and keep) good people, and signals to your team that you run a professional, trustworthy operation. Gallup estimates that low employee engagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion, or 9% of global GDP. It shows up in your productivity numbers, your turnover costs, and your ability to compete for talent. At DSA HR Solutions , we work with businesses across the Bay Area and beyond to build HR infrastructure that actually holds up. We have seen firsthand what happens when companies outgrow their outdated handbooks, or worse, when they never had one to begin with. Here are the 10 HR policies every business needs to have in 2026.

Companies on the Inc. Regionals: Pacific list had a median growth rate of 94 percent. Benicia, CA – Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, today revealed that DSA HR Solutions has been ranked No. 88 on its sixth annual Inc. Regionals: Pacific list – the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the Pacific. The region includes California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska. An extension of the national Inc. 5000 list, the Regionals list offers a data-driven look at the independent small businesses driving growth across the Pacific economy. Companies on this year’s list demonstrate exceptional revenue expansion, resilience, and job creation during a challenging economic period. “Being recognized on the Inc. Regionals list is an incredible honor and a reflection of the trust our clients place in us every day. When I founded DSA HR Solutions, my goal was to make high-quality HR support accessible to growing businesses that may not have the resources for a full-time internal HR department. Our mission has always been to provide clients with the HR expertise and compliance support they need to grow successfully. This recognition validates the hard work of our team and reinforces our commitment to delivering practical, strategic HR solutions that allow business owners to focus on what they do best." Debbie Amaro, CEO DSA HR Solutions. Inc. Between 2022 and 2024, these 134 private companies had a median growth rate of 94 percent; by 2024, they’d also added 7,503 jobs and $2.5 billion to the region’s economy. Complete results of the Inc. Regionals: Pacific, including company profiles and an interactive database sortable by industry and metro area, is available at: https://www.inc.com/regionals/pacific .  “The honorees on this year’s Inc. Regionals list achieved exceptional growth at a time when the odds were against them. Amid inflation, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing economic uncertainty, they didn't just persevere – they innovated, adapted, and thrived. Their resilience made them standouts in their industries and true growth engines in their regions,” said Bonny Ghosh, editorial director at Inc.

Compare the pros, cons, and costs of in-house vs. outsourced HR models to decide the best strategy for your company's growth, compliance, and budget.

Thinking of getting HR support for your business? There are a plethora of benefits of outsourcing your HR team over having it in-house, especially if you are a small to medium-sized business. But what does that HR support really look like? Bringing on HR support is definitely not like hiring someone to simply fix your website or repaint the office. It is a relationship that builds over time, and the value accumulates in ways that might not be obvious at first glance. A lot of business owners think about HR help when things are already on fire: when someone threatens to sue, the payroll gets messed up, or they realize their employee handbook was, in fact, important. But the businesses that truly benefit from HR support are the ones that treat it as ongoing infrastructure, and not emergency services. Let us walk you through what that looks like when it unfolds month by month.

Find out if your company is unintentionally violating labor laws and learn clear, practical ways to address compliance gaps and reduce legal risk.

Employee turnover is more expensive than most businesses realize. Learn the hidden costs and practical strategies to prevent costly turnover.

Think your business is doing fine? These 5 hidden risks could be costing you more than you realize—especially in California.

Compare an independent HR consultant vs. an HR outsourcing firm to find the right HR solution for your business’s needs, growth, and budget.

Discover why outsourcing HR is one of the smartest moves a business can make. Save time, cut costs, ensure compliance, and focus on growth with expert HR support.