Special Report
3 Questions
Burton M. Goldfield, President and CEO, TriNet Group Inc.
Smart Business Dallas | February 2010
Burton M. Goldfield, president and CEO, TriNet Group Inc.
Burton M. Goldfield is president and CEO of TriNet Group Inc. and is responsible for setting the overall corporate strategy and directing the business operations for the company. He has more than 25 years of experience in the industry and has worked in increasingly high-profile positions, including executive-level sales, operations and technology management.
Q. What significant human resources issues might affect businesses in 2010?
The health care reform bills will have a significant impact on the cost of delivering health care for the small and medium business and also, probably more important, on the reporting and the possible penalties associated with the reforms. Ultimately, if the owner or entrepreneur is not aware of the changes in the legal and regulatory issues, they’re going to be focusing on extracting themselves from that mire as opposed to focusing on their competitive advantage and their client base.
Q. What advice would you provide to a business that might be trimming its human resources budget?
First, you have to continue to do midyear reviews and year-end performance reviews. Reviews are tied to developing employees and making them feel valued and pointing out areas where they can do better. Second, recognize good performance. People shy away from that because they don’t have the big raises or bonuses to give out, but there are other ways to recognize good performances. Third, really keep the pulse on workplace morale. Productivity will suffer if workplace morale goes down. It doesn’t do any good to hide your head in the sand. Fourth, protect your benefits. People react emotionally to a decrease in their benefits, so I am not recommending my clients dramatically cut their benefits. I would rather defer raises than reduce health care benefits.
Q. What are you recommending to your clients as we work through this economic state in 2010?
You need to focus on your marketplace and understand it. You need to focus on your competitive advantage, which is, in most businesses, the people. This economy will change. Do you have a sound business plan? Do you have a competitive advantage? Do you have a core market? And do you have a great set of employees and colleagues?
