GritHR Solutions

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am an Executive at a healthcare company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a mission-driven, safety net hospital delivering high-quality, accesible healthcare in the West Side of Chicago.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire GritHR Solutions to accomplish?

• Stabilize and professionalize HR operations fast
• Address compliance risk and employee relations breakdowns
• Rebuild recruiting and retention capacity for critical roles

SOLUTION

How did you find GritHR Solutions?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select GritHR Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from GritHR Solutions were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of work was comprehensive and hands-on, spanning interim executive leadership, HR infrastructure rebuild, compliance remediation, and workforce stabilization.

GritHR Solutions stepped in as embedded HR leadership, functioning as an extension of our executive team rather than an external advisor. They conducted a rapid assessment of our existing HR operations, identified critical gaps, and immediately prioritized high-risk areas impacting compliance, employee relations, and patient-facing operations.

Key deliverables included:

Interim executive HR leadership and governance:

• Served in an interim VP-level HR capacity with direct partnership to the CEO and senior leadership.
• Took over the day-to-day HR function and ran it like their own as an extension of our hospital and rebuilt the HR department from the ground up.
• Established clear HR decision-making authority, escalation paths, and leadership accountability.

Compliance and risk remediation:

• Led and managed sensitive, multi-witness employee relations investigations with defensible documentation.
• Reviewed and strengthened HR policies, disciplinary processes, and documentation standards to reduce regulatory and legal exposure.
• Prepared leadership for state and regulatory scrutiny with clear records and corrective action plans.

HR team restructuring and capability building:

• Reorganized HR roles and responsibilities to better align with nursing, physician services, and professional services.
• Clarified HRBP coverage models and rebuilt trust between HR and operational leaders.
• Identified critical HR headcount gaps and created a hiring roadmap for sustainable support.

Recruiting and workforce stabilization:

• Rebuilt recruiting workflows for hard-to-fill clinical and leadership roles.
• Implemented more disciplined tracking, reporting, and accountability for hiring activity.
• Supported offers and pipeline development for key director-level and clinical positions.

Culture and engagement reset:

• Launched employee communication initiatives, pulse surveys, and engagement efforts to reestablish transparency and trust.
• Partnered with leaders to address toxic behaviors, improve management practices, and stabilize morale in high-impact departments.

The work was not theoretical or templated. It was operational, urgent, and deeply embedded, focused on fixing what was broken, reducing risk immediately, and putting systems in place that the organization could sustain long-term.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

This engagement produced clear, measurable progress in a very short period of time, particularly given the complexity and sensitivity of the environment.

Key outcomes included:

• Reduced organizational risk and increased compliance readiness:
  High-risk employee relations issues were investigated, documented, and remediated using defensible processes. Leadership now has clear documentation standards, escalation paths, and corrective action frameworks in place, significantly lowering regulatory and legal exposure.
• Stabilized HR operations and leadership confidence: HR moved from a reactive, fragmented function to a centralized, accountable operation with executive-level oversight. Senior leadership regained confidence in HR’s ability to manage sensitive matters, make decisions, and drive outcomes.
• Improved recruiting momentum for critical roles: Previously stalled searches for director-level and clinical leadership roles restarted with clear ownership, tracking, and cadence. Offers were extended for key positions, pipelines were rebuilt, and time-to-decision improved through tighter coordination between HR and operations.
• Stronger workforce trust and engagement signals:
  The launch of anonymous pulse surveys and improved communication channels led to increased participation and more actionable feedback from staff. Employees reported greater visibility into leadership actions and a clearer understanding of how concerns are addressed.
• Clear path to sustainability: The organization now has a defined HR structure, documented processes, and a prioritized hiring roadmap that enables continuity beyond interim leadership, rather than reverting to crisis-driven HR management.

In short, GritHR helped us move from organizational risk and instability to structure, accountability, and forward momentum, with systems in place to sustain progress. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

GritHR Solutions’ project management was disciplined, highly responsive, and execution-focused, which was critical given the urgency and visibility of the work.

They established clear priorities early, adjusted timelines as risks emerged, and consistently delivered against commitments. High-impact deliverables such as investigations, leadership guidance, policy updates, and recruiting actions were handled on aggressive timelines without sacrificing quality or defensibility.

Communication was proactive and direct. GritHR regularly briefed executive leadership, surfaced issues early, and provided clear recommendations rather than vague updates. When new or urgent needs arose, they reprioritized quickly and stepped in without delay, often anticipating issues before they became larger problems.

Most importantly, their approach was practical. There was no overengineering, no waiting for perfect conditions, and no dependency on unnecessary bureaucracy. They focused on what mattered most, delivered on time, and stayed tightly aligned to organizational realities throughout the engagement.

What was your primary form of communication with GritHR Solutions?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most was GritHR Solutions’ ability to operate at true executive level while still doing the hard, unglamorous work required to fix broken systems.

They did not act like a traditional consulting firm. They embedded quickly, took ownership, made difficult calls, and stood firm when leadership accountability was required. They balanced empathy with decisiveness, particularly in high-risk employee relations situations where clarity and courage matter more than comfort.

Equally impressive was their credibility with both executives and frontline leaders. GritHR could speak the language of compliance, operations, and culture at the same time, which is rare. The result was faster decision-making, reduced risk, and real progress instead of surface-level fixes.

In short, they brought calm, structure, and authority into an environment that needed all three. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something GritHR Solutions could have done differently?

Given the scope and urgency of the work, there were very few areas for improvement.

If anything, the only limitation was structural rather than performance-related. Because GritHR stepped in during an active crisis with existing staffing gaps, some initiatives required parallel hiring and internal change before they could fully scale. That was a function of organizational readiness, not execution.

GritHR was transparent about these constraints, set realistic expectations, and focused first on risk mitigation and stabilization rather than overpromising long-term transformation before the foundation was in place.

Overall, their approach was appropriately prioritized, candid, and aligned to the realities we were facing. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder, CEO of Lead Love

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

RevOps services agency

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire GritHR Solutions to accomplish?

• Get compliant - multi-state registrations
• Manage onboarding and payroll
• Overall getting organized with employment docs and processes (first-time founder)

SOLUTION

How did you find GritHR Solutions?

Online Search

Why did you select GritHR Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Great communication

How many teammates from GritHR Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Before I met GritHR, my company's compliance and HR activities were a huge stress. I needed someone reliable, willing to tailor their approach to meet my needs and help me learn the ropes, and most importantly - an HR expert who really cared about my business's success. I was very lucky to find GritHR. They got us compliant quickly after starting and actively guided me through the processes, rather than relying on my for direction. That was two years ago, and GritHR has been managing all of our HR, compliance, payroll, and benefits administration ever since. My company has grown quite a bit during that time and GritHR has played a pivotal role in that growth. As our needs evolve, they're always at the ready to take us to the next level.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Compliance: 100% compliant for the past two years Employees have all been very happy with onboarding and benefits administration Founder's time spent thinking about compliance and HR: close to zero

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

GritHR is impressively responsive. I can always get a reply within 1 business day, but usually much quicker. I never have to worry about items being overdue. I am the one who's more likely to drop something, and they will follow up with me until it gets done.

What was your primary form of communication with GritHR Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The one thing that ties all of GritHR's great qualities together is that GritHR is invested in my company's success. The work is always carried out thoughtfully, and we are given proactive recommendations on what we needs to be doing as we grow. When we encounter growing pains, GritHR usually has a process already developed and ready to help us through it.

Are there any areas for improvement or something GritHR Solutions could have done differently?

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the head of Operations of an educational organization

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We provide college admissions counseling as well as life coaching and support for high school students.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire GritHR Solutions to accomplish?

• Strategically manage human resources
• Create scalable HR programs

SOLUTION

How did you find GritHR Solutions?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select GritHR Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from GritHR Solutions were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We've been partnering with GritHR for over 2 years now to manage all facets of our HR program. Our key deliverable since day 1 has always been to hand-off HR to a team that can fully manage our HR to allow us to focus on growing our business. GritHR is a true, turnkey solution for a fractional, outsourced HR department.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Higher employee engagement and retention, revenue growth, and compliant HR operations.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Their project management skills are great. They provide clear project plans and keep us updated with each step along the way. They are always ahead of schedule.

What was your primary form of communication with GritHR Solutions?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

That they were able to seamlessly blend into our team and culture.We've never though of HR as a profit driver until we worked with GritHR.

Are there any areas for improvement or something GritHR Solutions could have done differently?

Keep doing what you're doing!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Operating Officer of a real estate company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Property Management & Real Estate

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire GritHR Solutions to accomplish?

• Streamline HR Functions
• Assist with Recruitment

SOLUTION

How did you find GritHR Solutions?

Online Search

Why did you select GritHR Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from GritHR Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We required assistance with streamlining our HR functions across the board in the company as well as help with recruiting and talent acquisition. We also needed to guidelines to establishing our employee handbook as well as employee files.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have received our handbook outline as well as an enormous amount of help with talent acquisition thus far. The team has been able to assist us with our hiring needs as well as guide us through best practices for handling employee issues as they arise.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The team is always extremely responsive to all our needs and has been a tremendous help since we've started with them. The company handbook was completed ahead of schedule and they are currently working with us on our hiring needs which is a work in progress.

What was your primary form of communication with GritHR Solutions?

Virtual Meeting

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their innovative approach to HR has been the most impressive thus far. They've been able to help us identify areas where we can improve and be more efficient especially as it relates talent acquisition.

Are there any areas for improvement or something GritHR Solutions could have done differently?

Nothing to date!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP Cybersecurity & Compliance

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a managed services and managed security services provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire GritHR Solutions to accomplish?

• Benefits Management
• Employee Retention
• Payroll Services
• Staffing & Recruiting
• Strategic HR Consulting

SOLUTION

How did you find GritHR Solutions?

Online Search

Why did you select GritHR Solutions over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from GritHR Solutions were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Grit handles all of our HR needs that would have traditionally required multiple partner relationships and internal management. Fully managed Human Resource solutions that are done professionally with a nationwide capability have been made very easy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were handling HR internally and were growing rapidly. We were still too small for a full internal human resources department. By outsourcing the labor, getting strategic advice, and taking advantage of a number of fully managed service offerings we have saved considerable costs and reduced a significant number of risks.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Everything is always delivered on time (or early), in excellent quality, and thorough. Having a team of professionals handling it also allows us to benefit from the experience, and prevents us from having unintentional oversights and the administrative burden of management.

What was your primary form of communication with GritHR Solutions?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The people, the culture, and the value of services delivered are impressive. It wasn't just one thing, its the package that's delivered.

Are there any areas for improvement or something GritHR Solutions could have done differently?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Operations Director at a small nonprofit civic engagement organization helping to register millions of people of color to vote.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GritHR Solutions?

In an effort to retain the best talent across America, our organization is fully remote requiring us to register in a number of different states. Given our limited bandwidth, we needed support to ensure our state tax filings were compliant.

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

Our trusted benefits brokerage team referred us to a compliance expert which turned out to be GritHR! We needed a firm who knew the compliance landscape for nonprofit organizations and requirements as they varied by state.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

They registered our organization in multiple states to ensure compliance with state payroll tax withholding, unemployment, and workers compensation.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked directly with the Managing Director/Founder.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

Shannon came right in and got us up to speed quickly with all of our state tax accounts. She is knowledgeable out various requirements which helped us navigate an otherwise tricky landscape.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective! Shannon met with me weekly to ensure we move forward with our goals on time. She is very responsive to email and always willing to hop on a call.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The promptness of their responses to very complicated questions is impressive. For a small organization, this level of expertise has been invaluable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing that comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

SFR3 - Single Family Rental/Construction Company Director Of Recruiting (+HR)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GritHR Solutions?

100% HR solutions (Onboarding/offboarding, employee relations, system generations, termination procedures, payroll, etc.)

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

HR solution in a box = attractive

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

The project is all inclusive and ongoing. They created our handbook, compliance, Onboarding/offboarding, employee relations, system generations, termination procedures, payroll, etc.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?1-2 - Stephanie mainly/almost exclusively. Position = HR.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

I have nothing but extremely positive remarks regarding Stephanie. The attention to detail is second to none. Not to mention the learning curve associated with our business.

We are an extremely large client in start-up growth mode. We should likely have an entire HR department composed of many people. Stephanie came in and took on this entire function. Lots of development, and was able to be detailed enough to have our systems work together (as we are also a tech company).

Others on Grit have tried to help out, but errors were made. This is a very tech heavy company so one small mistake such as lowercase letter can break our systems. Stephanie took the initiative to handle herself because she can hold herself accountable for any mistakes. Once again, thats where her detailed manner shed light.

Overall I would rate her at the highest level. And us as a client (taking on the whole HR function), is very difficult. I would hire her at any company at a high level for HR.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They are efficient, responsive, and attentive.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Finding and providing HR solutions where we didnt think to look

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO of several companies. Currently Grit HR works for us in our new start up The CPAP Box. We provide online medical equipment around the country.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire GritHR Solutions?

Full Service HR without the cost of a Director level person. And often that ONE person is not well versed in everything. Lastly, the other online HR firms are advice and mostly legal forms only. They don't deal with the real HR day to day - payroll, finding benefits, answering questions, handling PTO, handbooks, etc.

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

I have worked with them before and wish I had met them 10 years ago. They bring the full service range, but at a much lower cost because truth be told, we don't have 40 hours of work of HR.

Describe the project in detail and walk through their service package.

Grit HR is our HR department, soup to nuts. They oversee payroll, benefits, help us with any employee issues, keep us apprised of legal and filling issues etc. Plus if we need an expert in an area, they have one.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I have worked with 3 people, but mostly work with our primary HR Specialist Stephanie. She finds anyone else she needs within the company. So simple and she is incredibly responsive.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the engagement that demonstrate progress or success?

They took over the HR of a larger (100 employee+) company that was in transition. They took over HR for less than we were paying and it was 100 times smoother! With the current company where we had to do a lot of start up work, they have been indispensable. Making sure we are registered everywhere we need to be. Making sure I get payroll approved on time. They protect us.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Seamless.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They have all the skills at a fraction of the price. I am realizing just how much time my previous HR folks wasted on nonsense. These guys not only get everything done, but my employees feel more engaged and heard. Good HR will always help you. Bad HR is like an anchor. I've experienced both. As I said earlier. I wish I had found these guys years ago.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Not so far. I am sure we will grow together. Business is growing quickly right now. I am sure they are up to the challenges as the come.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a marketing agency. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with GritHR Solutions?

We initially had a complicated situation with state registration because our employees reside in different states. We were looking for someone to help us with personnel registrations, renewals, and audits. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

GritHR Solutions is our HR provider. They provide HR consulting, and they also handle our contractor payments. I’ve added them to our Gusto portal, which they are using for their tasks. 

What is the team composition?

I’m working with their founder. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since December 2021, and our relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve saved around 10–15 hours per month, thanks to GritHR Solutions. Before working with them, our HR processes have been a mess.

How did GritHR Solutions perform from a project management standpoint?

GritHR Solutions meets their deadlines and stays on budget. We usually communicate using Slack. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

GritHR Solutions is very reliable. I’ve already cycled through different freelancers, but those other folks haven’t been a good fit for my company. Meanwhile, GritHR Solutions has the consistency that I need, removing the need for me to find a new partner every few months. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. We’re pretty happy with everything so far.