The story behind The HR Department
One family, two cities and three decades of THD
In the busyness of business, it’s easy to forget to stop and reflect – to think about where things started and where they are now. But when we remember, we feel enormously privileged to be doing what we do. We’re also proud of how our business unfolded – and how many people we’ve helped along the way.
Behind every business, there’s a story filled with highs and lows and everything in between. Here’s ours.
The early days
Megan Williams officially opened our doors as Dispute Solutions in 1999. The company was based in Hawke’s Bay and existed to support employees and employers with their disputes. When Megan’s daughter Catherine Murray had her first child in 2006, the corporate world she’d worked in pre-children didn’t fit her new way of life. She expanded Dispute Solutions to a new home in Auckland, and with the Hawke’s Bay branch, the company was renamed HR & Dispute Solutions in 2007.
Broadening services
Since our inception, more than just our company name has evolved and expanded – our services and motivation have too. With a focus on HR consulting, we support companies that don’t have in-house HR to put that side of their business in order. But feedback from our clients showed that we did so much more than help with disputes. We hold the hands of our clients every step of the way, dealing with everything from minor conflicts and sorting paperwork to the bigger issues.
“It’s a great feeling to help a business owner through a challenging process and reach a result that can move their business forward,” says Catherine. “It’s what gets me up in the morning!”
So, we re-branded in 2014 and changed our name to The HR Department – because that’s what we are to our clients. Almost a decade later, The HR Department Auckland is run by Catherine and Hawke’s Bay by her mother, Megan. Although separate companies, they remain connected and support each other when necessary.
The HR Department difference
We’re not the same company we were almost 25 years ago, but two things remain the same: our passion for helping our clients and our approach. Here’s what we help with:
– Tailored advice and solutions
We don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach, templates or a ‘business-in-a-box’ solution. Instead, we respect the culture of your business. So, whether you’re restructuring, managing disciplinary action or want to ensure your paperwork is robust, we have a tailored approach to suit the unique nature of your business.
– Up-to-date legalities
Employment relations laws are constantly changing. As a manager or business owner, you have enough work without worrying whether your paperwork is up to date. Let us take care of this for you – so you can focus on running your business successfully.
– Personal connections
Our team members are businesspeople, so we understand the stress and pressures of running your own business. We’re not HR theorists sitting in an office – we’re practical, personable, and understanding of your business’s unique needs.
HR concern? Contact the experts
With over four decades of collective experience, the HR Department knows what your business needs.
Small and mid-size business owners and managers get HR consulting tailored to their desired outcomes – whether that’s restructuring your business, navigating disciplinary action, giving or getting feedback from your team, coaching managers, or ensuring your employment paperwork is fit for purpose. And looking forward, we plan on doing more of that.
If you have any concerns about HR in your company, give us a call – we’re always here to help.