It is an exciting time to be in the logistics industry in Europe. It’s a growing sector of the European economy with a lot of government and private sector support. Where there is investment, there is opportunity–and you can find both in the logistics industry!
One of the biggest challenges of running any company in Europe is maintaining excellent standards when it comes to Human Resources. HR policies and implementation will always have a huge impact on your operations, whether you are a start-up, an established company, or at any other stage of growth.
Here is some context about how your HR needs may change based on your circumstances:
- Start-ups need to start from scratch and write all of the policies for their employee handbook
- Established European businesses may need an HR audit to figure out what is working and what is not
- UK- and US-owned expansions into Europe may need HR consulting services to help them expand their operations successfully
Outsourcing your Human Resources department ensures that you are fully compliant with European laws and up to date on all the best industry practices for recruiting, hiring, and managing your employees.
Considerations for HR in the European Logistics Industry
Each industry has its own unique HR needs. For example, the Human Resources department at a cybersecurity company needs to oversee continuing education and certification for cybersecurity professionals, aligned with European standards. A logistics company, on the other hand, may need to recruit from a geographic logistics hub like Antwerp, Rotterdam, or Dusseldorf.
It is important to take into consideration the unique aspects of the logistics industry and how that may affect your European operations.
Safety & Compliance Training
Your HR department needs to require and facilitate safety and compliance training for employees. Logistics industry employees need to have extensive knowledge about safety topics like driving, equipment usage, and hazard identification to run your facilities safely.
Hiring ELA (European Logistics Association)-certified employees is a great way to guarantee that your company is onboarding highly qualified employees. If you have team members who have not yet gone through a certification program offered by ELA, your HR team can incentivize them to get this important certification.
Remote Workforce Management
Although many logistics jobs are on-site, there are remote work positions in the industry as well. Logistics analysts, procurement managers, dispatchers, and trade compliance specialists are just some of the positions that may be held by remote workers. With so many opportunities for distance and/or hybrid employees, your HR team needs to know how to hire, retain, and manage these members of your team.
Recruiting Top-Tier Talent
If you want your company to run smoothly, you need to hire the best people. Hiring someone who is a bad fit for your company or the position could end up costing you a lot of money–and a lot of trouble. Your HR department should be able to recruit from impressive talent pools throughout Europe to find the best possible candidates for open positions.
Facilitating Visas, Employee Sponsorship, and Immigration
If you are recruiting from an international talent pool, you will need to manage the complexities of visas, sponsorships, and immigration rules.
Your HR team should be confident in their ability to navigate all of the rules and documentation necessary for hiring across national borders.
Benefits of Outsourcing HR for Logistics Companies
The benefits of outsourcing essential HR functions to a third-party company are plentiful! Most importantly, it gives your leadership team the time they need to work on strategic priorities instead of worrying about employee relations, recruiting, and regulatory compliance.
Reduced Costs
When you transfer your HR tasks to a specialized provider, it replaces costly in-house overhead. This yields immediate savings from lower salaries, training, and compliance costs. These savings compound over time, too.
Specialized Capabilities
Your seasoned third-party HR partner possesses specialized expertise in all of the regulations associated with European businesses, including in the logistics industry. This includes privacy laws, recruiting regulations, and all other employment rules.
Agility & Flexibility
HR outsourcing allows you to adapt to the variable needs of your logistics firm. You only pay for the specific HR services your business requires, but you can add or eliminate services as needed. Your HR team can scale up or down to match your company’s evolving needs.
Risk Reduction
HR mistakes can be costly. If you are dependent upon less experienced people to manage these tasks, you are more likely to see increased costs from fines, redundant work, and expensive do-overs. A knowledgeable HR provider mitigates compliance violations and fines that arise from more limited experience. You should look for an HR provider with proven expertise in data protection, employment, and employment law.
Sharper Focus
When you outsource your HR tasks, you relieve your leadership team of having to split their focus between growing the company and managing employment. Take away the burden of Human Resources, and your executives can do better work in less time!
How to Outsource HR at Your European Logistics Firm
At Europe HR Solutions, we have served companies in just about every industry in Europe–including logistics firms. We don’t believe that you should be forced to sign a “one-size-fits-all” contract full of HR tasks that you don’t need us to do. Instead, we are happy to create a customized contract for your specific needs, whether that is:
- comprehensive HR services for every aspect of your business
- collaboration with your in-house HR department on specific projects
- ongoing management of some HR tasks while your in-house team does the rest
You have options for your logistics company! Additionally, you may have different needs based on your company’s current stage of growth.
HR for Start-up Logistics Companies
If your company is in the start-up phase, we can:
- Help you craft an employee handbook full of clear, concise policies
- Conduct an HR audit that overviews how to be compliant with EU and national employment laws
- Research and choose the best HR software for your needs
- Recruit and hire your first European team members
After you are established in the European marketplace as a small or mid-sized business, we can take on as many HR tasks as you need us to. Our contracts are tailor-made to your company’s needs.
What Logistics HR Tasks Can Be Outsourced?
This list offers a strong overview of the many HR tasks that can be outsourced to a company like Europe HR Solutions. While not comprehensive, it serves as a great starting point for understanding the types of services you can expect from an outsourced HR provider. Evaluating these options will help determine which tasks are best suited for outsourcing versus handling in-house.
If you have an additional project in mind that isn’t included in our list, please reach out! We can help you find a solution to any HR problem or challenge!
Employee Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
Attracting skilled talent is critical for European logistics companies to thrive. An outsourced HR provider can optimize your hiring by:
- Sourcing qualified candidates for niche logistics roles
- Tapping into their familiarity with local job markets to find great talent
- Communicating across multiple languages to recruit globally
Employee Onboarding & Offboarding
Streamlined onboarding enables new hires to become productive right away. Similarly, compliant offboarding is essential in Europe. Your HR partner will:
- Develop efficient onboarding processes to quickly equip new employees
- Supply necessary hiring documents that are required under European regulations
- Manage mandated offboarding procedures per strict EU employment laws
Employee Engagement & Retention
High rates of turnover are a sign that there is a problem at your company. Good HR management can reduce turnover by monitoring and encouraging employee engagement. This may be done by:
- Fostering a workplace environment aligned with cultural values
- Recognizing the reasons employees choose to leave
- Decreasing high rates of employee turnover
- Creating customized retention plans for employees in Europe
- Introducing engagement programs to increase job satisfaction
Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution
One of the first places employees go when they are in conflict with a colleague or supervisor is the HR department. If this happens, your HR team needs to know how to appropriately navigate the complexities of conflict in the workplace. This includes:
- Considering the impact of cultural contexts on workplace disputes
- Resolving interpersonal issues between employees through careful mediation
- Addressing all employee complaints and grievances in a way that makes everyone feel heard and valued
HR Compliance & Legal Support
Compliance mistakes are costly and time-consuming, and Europe has a lot of laws you need to comply with. Your HR team can help to:
- Ensure compliance with EU labor laws to mitigate legal risks
- Create or review your employment contracts
- Offer legal support on a variety issues
HR Consulting
HR Consulting is an additional service offered by third-party HR providers. Start-ups, early growth stage companies, and well-established businesses benefit from HR consulting that includes
- Providing guidance on business cultures in the countries where you operate
- Equipping your in-house HR team with useful data, information, and metrics
- Providing expertise in HR advisory services
Reporting & Analytics
Whenever you need to make an important decision about your logistics operations, you are going to want clear, accurate, and thorough data. Your HR team can:
- Present workforce insights to your executive team
- Make recommendations based on comprehensive HR data analysis
- Prepare custom HR reports for the logistics industry
HR Technology & Systems
HR companies offer expertise in the myriad of technology and software solutions to your people management needs. This includes:
- Selecting the best HR software for your company
- Helping your IT team to implement new HR software
- Ensuring that all technology systems follow Europe’s strict data protection laws
Payroll Processing & Benefits Administration
With expert payroll administration, you don’t have to worry about late payroll, missed checks, or any other costly mistakes. This will include:
- Guaranteeing timely payroll processing
- Overseeing benefits enrollment
- Connecting with local benefits providers
- Ensuring payroll compliance with Europe’s tax regulations
Employee Performance Management
There is an art to motivating employees to perform well. Outsourcing your HR to performance management professionals means you benefit from:
- Clearly defined objectives for excellence
- Effective feedback on training and performance
- Appraisal systems that fit your company values and regional/national culture
Training & Development
Prioritizing training and development is one of the best ways to ensure that your logistics team is always learning and improving! Your HR team doesn’t provide the training, but they play an important role in ensuring training. They do this through:
- Detecting training gaps and addressing them with development plans
- Creating programs to build employee skills
- Implementing training for effective international collaboration
- Verifying continuing education programs
Get the HR Support You Need for Your Logistics Company
At Europe HR Solutions, our multilingual human resources experts understand the distinct needs of European and global companies, especially within the burgeoning technology industry.
We serve as an integral link between your leadership and your talent. Our team effectively recruits, develops, and supports your workforce while ensuring employment law compliance across all your locations.
Whether facilitating agile workflows, managing remote teams, or attracting scarce global talent, we empower you to focus on business growth while we meet the demands of today’s dynamic workforce. We encourage you to review our record of successful partnerships, including those in the logistics setting!
Partnering with Europe HR Solutions means engaging a dedicated HR team with deep expertise in the international business landscape. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your organization’s expansion in Europe.
