Shop-floor HR has rules desk-job firms don’t know.
OSHA recordkeeping, workers’ comp claims, hourly classification, multi-site payroll, and a labor market that doesn’t sit still — manufacturing and trades operate under a layer of requirements that standard HR outsourcing wasn’t built to handle.
The reality
Six things that desk-job HR isn’t built for.
- 01
OSHA recordkeeping and incident response
OSHA 300 logs, incident investigation, and return-to-work coordination have to happen on a clock — and the paperwork is what an audit actually looks at.
- 02
Workers' comp claims and carrier audits
Claim handling, light-duty placement, and annual carrier audits drive your premium. Mismanaged claims cost you for years.
- 03
Hourly and overtime classification
Shift work, on-call time, travel time, and salaried-but-not-exempt roles are where FLSA exposure lives. Getting it wrong is back-pay plus penalties.
- 04
Multi-site, multi-state operations
Crews and locations across jurisdictions mean different employment laws, different posters, different payroll rules — and one HR function trying to keep up.
- 05
Subcontractor vs. employee classification
1099 misclassification is one of the highest-dollar HR risks in the trades. The IRS, the DOL, and state agencies all have their own tests.
- 06
Skilled-trades hiring and retention
Tight labor markets, apprenticeship pipelines, and a workforce that gets poached — recruiting and retention here isn't the same problem as office hiring.
What we do for manufacturing + trades
Built for safety, classifications, and the paper trail.
Managed HR
Manufacturing + trades context
- Employee relations — shift, hourly, and trades workforce
- Workers' comp claim management and return-to-work coordination
- OSHA 300 logs, incident investigation, and recordkeeping
- I-9 / E-Verify process management
- Drug and alcohol testing program design (DOT and non-DOT)
- Hiring and onboarding for skilled trades, operators, and shift staff
- FLSA classification review — hourly, salaried, and exempt roles
- ADA and FMLA accommodation management
Managed Back Office
Manufacturing + trades context
- Multi-site, multi-state payroll
- Job-cost coding for labor
- Workers' comp audit prep
Project work
Scoped per project
- Safety program build-out and OSHA compliance package
- Handbook overhaul — hourly and trades workforce
- Workers' comp claim file audit
- Subcontractor classification review
Let's talk
Shop-floor HR is its own discipline. We know the territory.
Book a free 30-minute call. We’ll talk through where your HR stands, what the safety and classification gaps look like, and whether we’re the right fit.