Ep. 626 Improving Hiring Practices in a Tough Labor Market

Rancho Mesa’s Client Technology Specialist, Brenda Colby sit down with Client Technology Coordinator, Chad Winder to talk about improving hiring practices in a tough labor market.

Show Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brenda Colby⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Chad Winder

Editor: Jadyn Brandt

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production

© Copyright 2026. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcript

Brenda Colby: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive.  I’m your host, Brenda Colby, and I’m joined by Chad Winders, Client Technology Coordinator with Rancho Mesa, and we’re going to talk about improving hiring practices in a tough labor market.

Chad, welcome to the show.

Chad Winders: Happy to be here Brenda.

BC: We’re happy you’re here. So, hiring practices should be considered a key part of an organization’s safety culture. With that being said, what risks can result from poor hiring decisions?

CW: Well, the decisions a company makes about whom to employ can absolutely play an important role in their organization’s success. Poor hiring decisions can lead to a higher risk of injuries, claims, damaged equipment, and lawsuits. At the moment, the labor market is tight but there are still plenty of ways employers can improve their hiring practices and protect their bottom line.

BC: Okay, so what are some of the most effective steps employers can take to improve their hiring practices?

CW: Well, developing strong hiring practices starts at attracting the most qualified candidates through clear job descriptions, targeted recruiting, and a positive employer reputation. Then, once you have a qualified pool of candidates, applying a consistent and fair selection and evaluation process can help improve hiring decisions. And, strong hiring practices don’t end when a candidate accepts an offer. Employers should keep onboarding efficient, provide opportunities for career growth, and build support systems for employees.

BC: Absolutely. And, even after following all of those steps, long-term compliance with employment laws and regulations can help protect a business from legal risks. So Chad, what resources are available for clients who are looking to improve their hiring practices?

CW: Well, the RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal gives clients access to a lot of different hiring tools such as a Job Description Builder, a Salary Comparison Tool, and the Smart Employee Handbook that can all help employers stay compliant.  There are a lot of available trainings as well, that include: Evaluating Your Onboarding Process, Interviewing Skills for Managers: Conducting an Interview, and Legal Aspects of Interviewing and Hiring.

BC: Yeah, and those are just some of the resources available through the HR portal. There are a lot of other resources and tools to choose from. So Chad, if listeners have questions about using our HR resources to improve their hiring practices, how can they get in contact with you?

CW: Clients can contact me at cwinder@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at 619-499-7389.

BC: Great, and if you'd like to connect with me, you can reach me at bcolby@ranchomesa.com or (619) 486-6562. So Chad, thanks for joining me in StudioOne.

CW: Thanks for having me.

BC: Thank you for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.