.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} With a well-publicized worker shortage threatening Iowa’s companies in the coming years, employee retention will become increasingly important. With that in mind, Omaha-based HR Systems Inc. has opened a branch office in Central Iowa, with the goal of serving small and medium sized businesses that can’t afford to spend the time and money on retention programs.

“Retention is huge and can be very costly,” said Tamara Verbrugge, HR Systems’ Iowa consultant.

Verbrugge said small businesses just don’t have the resources to properly manage their own human resources. That’s where her company steps in.

“We can help with hiring, training, performance management, employee retention and also help with termination,” she said. “We are very flexible in what we can do, as any of our services are available a la carte.”

Because there are so many labor laws, Verbrugge said, business owners must protect themselves by having someone make sure they are following them all and keeping everything legal.

“Business owners should focus on growing their business,” she said. “They can’t spend time focusing on these things.”

The company is also holding seminars throughout the fall to help business owners learn more about how human resources can affect their business. The first, held Sept. 13, focused on the importance of HR law. It was part of a series sponsored by the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce.

“The chambers have helped us out a lot,” Verbrugge said.

The company will hold two more seminars in Ankeny. On Oct. 16 Verbrugge will discuss “Setting Goals and Priorities,” and on Nov. 13, she will discuss “Hiring the Right People.”

“The beauty of these seminars is that when you leave, you will have tools you can use when you go back to your business,” Verbrugge said.

The seminars are not only designed to help those business owners who attend, but they also serve to promote membership in the local chambers.

“We want to do these more often all over the area,” she said. Verbrugge’s goal is to hire another part-time consultant within six months, once the company’s business warrants the extra help.

“The reception we’ve already gotten has been very good,” she said. “I’m very pleased with how this has worked out so far.”