Membership 101

By Kevin Menzer, Chief Operating Officer
Published December 3, 2024

Mission statement? Sure, we’ve got one: To guide and support employers with HR expertise and resources to enhance organizational performance and minimize risk.

And how do we do that? Often with free* stuff that helps simplify the lives of our members.

(Read this next sentence really fast so that it sounds like one of those legal disclaimers on a radio commercial.) “*The lawyers require me to say that “free” isn’t really free because you have to be a member of HR Source in order to receive these benefits and to be a member of HR Source requires an annual membership dues investment, so what I really mean is “included with your membership.”

So, free, not free, whatever. I’ll leave that to the linguists and lawyers. Meantime, here’s a list of useful resources, services, and tools that you can access as an HR Source member anytime, without getting your wallet out (beyond your membership dues).

Forms & Sample Documents
HR requires a lot of paperwork. Forms, letters, polices, and more. Don’t start from scratch. We’ve prepared a curated collection of resources to provide you with helpful draft documents and important reference materials.

HR Field Guides
Employment laws are complex, dynamic, and interactive. Don’t get caught in the web. Download an HR Source Field Guide to the tricky topic you’re currently facing for a clear, concise navigation aid.

HR Hotline
Sometimes, HR issues require specialized expertise. Consider us the HR department in your back pocket! Count on us for fast, accurate, reliable answers to all your human resources and employee management questions. Submit your question through the HR Hotline Online or just pick up the phone and call us at 800-448-4584.

HR Exchange
Collaborate online with fellow HR Source members (more than 1200 of them!) to share ideas and resources, solve problems, and expand your professional network. Join the All Members Community today!

Surveys/Salary Estimator
We collect, summarize, and publish colossal quantities of statistical employment data for our members including compensation rates, benefit offerings, employment policies, workplace practices, and more. When you provide data to a survey, you receive the final report free (again, “free*”) of charge. And, you can always access a quick and easy average salary for a job in the Chicagoland market through our online Salary Estimator.

HR Check-In
This one is huge – especially for our smaller employers who may not be able to enjoy the benefits of a full-time, on-staff, HR professional. At your request, we’ll provide a couple of hours with one of our HR professionals or employment attorneys reviewing your top areas of concern. It’s free included with your membership, and available annually. Schedule your HR Check-In soon!

Is there more?
Yes! We often host member training programs that require no additional registration fee, including our very popular Straight from the Source series. Then, there’s our new Podcast channel, DEI: Amplifying Vital Voices. And of course, should there come a point or a project where you’d rather hire someone to handle it entirely, we offer a full menu of HR, legal, compliance, compensation, survey, and training services. For members of HR Source, outsourcing is more like in-sourcing!