As dog owners, my husband and I often walk our pup through a charming area near some restaurants.
It’s a lovely spot with grass, trees, and shrubs — and what I thought were a lot of plump squirrels. That is, until someone pointed out that those “squirrels” were actually rats.
What struck me was how easy it was to mistake one thing for another because I wanted to believe the picture in front of me was pleasant. Businesses fall into this trap, too. On the surface, things can look healthy — good culture, smooth processes, satisfied teams. But beneath the surface, there may be hidden “rats” — issues that undermine productivity, create turnover risk, or quietly erode employee engagement. And like in my neighborhood, if there’s a steady food source, those problems won’t leave on their own.
So how do you keep the “rats” from taking over your organization? The first step is awareness.
An outside perspective on your HR practices can help highlight risks and blind spots that you may not notice on a day-to-day basis. A thoughtful HR assessment can uncover what’s really going on, so you’re not just admiring the shrubbery — you’re making sure what’s behind it is as healthy as it looks.
