The findings in Human Resource Management Practices and Firm Performance in Small Businesses“a Cornell University/Gevity Institute Research Report”again validate the studies and survey results we are seeing over and over, like in the Watson Wyatt Human Capital Index work.

HR best practices make a bottom-line difference. And that difference can be quantified for organizations of all sizes. Look at these research results for small businesses:

So the research is clear and should be convincing. Thats the easy part. The challenge is implementing effective best practices. Thats the hard part. However, its worth it because you can reap a large return from a relatively small investment. For many small businesses, starting with an online recruiting system is a great step in that direction.