Meet Christy
Christy Jacobson has worked in business for over 20 years and has worked in dedicated HR roles for more than 12 of those years. She earned her SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) in 2017 and has an extensive background in employee relations, leadership development, and talent acquisition. Her experiences developed a strong belief in the partnership of human resources with business owners and leaders to achieve goals. She knows that when this partnership is done well, the natural byproduct is that employees will also develop and achieve their own personal and professional goals.
For the last number of years, Christy had a deep desire to break outside the mold of a traditional HR career and use her experience to help small businesses – a demographic that typically does not have access to or think they need human resources. The opportunity came in 2022 to step out of her HR management role and start Square Peg Consulting.
“I have been fortunate to gain experience in multiple industries and sizes of companies and believe that allows me to bring a unique perspective and creative solutions to everyday challenges. My why behind seeking out a career in HR had a lot to do with loving people, a little to do with my brother being in the industry and telling some crazy stories, and nothing to do with being seen as the policy police. That can be hard to do when knee-deep in the red tape of corporate HR. It’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Square Peg is the culmination of everything I believe HR can be to support businesses and individuals to achieve success – in a way that is simple, effective, and tailored to the business, industry and individuals.”
Christy was born and raised in North Dakota and currently resides in Moorhead, MN with her husband Mark, their two kids, and dogs. Outside of work, Christy is busy with her kids’ activities and loves to watch them develop their own passions. She is also an avid reader and loves to binge watch Bones or any Hallmark Christmas movie.
Benefits of Outsourced HR
1. Increased Efficiency
When you manage all HR functions in-house, you can be bogged down with piles of paperwork, HR compliance, risk mitigation, employee benefits, processing payroll, employee complaints, and other important HR functions. Outsourcing some of these services allows you to free up this time and increase the overall efficiency of your company. This also gives you the capacity to hire a workforce that spends their time advancing your company’s strategic goals, growing your revenue stream, and improving customer loyalty.
2. Employee Performance Management
Effective employee development is a critical component of HR. However, every employee is different and responds uniquely to feedback. When you outsource employee development to Square Peg, you’ll gain access to a variety of performance management tools and modern practices that not only help improve your overall organizational efficiency, but it also communicates your investment in your employees’ growth and overall happiness. Outsourcing HR does not mean that your employees will be managed by an external team. You are still responsible for this, but you’ll have access to expert support to help you gain a better understanding of how to foster a people-centric workplace that helps build employee satisfaction. You’ll also have the resources to offer your employees practical training on best practices, business competencies, and soft skills that encourages both personal and professional development.
3. Stronger Risk Management
One of the most difficult aspects of running a small business is staying up to date with employment-related laws at the local, state, and federal levels. Some changes may be small, but you may still need to make adjustments within your business. Outsourcing HR to Square Peg strengthens your approach to risk management by providing you with best practices to help you avoid fines, claims, or devastating penalties.
