279: Making HR an Asset, Not a Liability with Kim Ottone Tank

What does HR mean to you? Human Resources is all about how we treat the people in our company. Even if you're solo, having an HR mindset helps you treat people well. The pet sitting industry has quite a few challenges when it comes to HR. Kim Ottone Tank, owner of Apronstrings Pet Sitting, shares how to approach the unique nature of HR in pet care. Kim helps us understand why we should take HR seriously and why it's not such a massive burden.

Main topics:

• What is HR?
• Company culture and HR
• Supporting staff
• Finding resources for HR

Main takeaway: Taking HR seriously means we're serious about treating people well.

About our guest: Apronstrings was founded in 1990 by Kim Tank, a registered veterinary technician. Kim is a Certified Professional Pet Sitter through Pet Sitters International. In addition, she has become Fear Free Certified, a program developed to reduce fear, stress and anxiety in pets.

She hired her first employee in 1996, after carefully researching hiring practices in the industry. Her staff have always been employees, covered by her bond, liability insurance and worker's compensation policy. All of her staff receive intensive ongoing training and all are either certified in pet first aid, or are currently enrolled in a class.

Founder and CEO, Kim has always known she was destined to work with animals and has devoted her life to working in pet care. After living in Concord for many years, she relocated her family to Pollock Pines, CA, in 2016, to raise goats and (more) chickens. She has 4 cats and a dog as well. Kim splits her time between the Bay Area and El Dorado County to maintain a close connection with her sitters, her clients and their loving pets. When not working, she loves running, kayaking, mentoring other pet sitters and exploring El Dorado Wine Country.

Links: Episode 153: www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/153 Episode 176: www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/176 Email Kim: [email protected] Website: www.apronstringsonline.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetSitterHiring

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Full show notes and transcript

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