"To stay on your toes and keep growing in 2022, you must be flexible, adapt, and overcome no matter the obstacle."
Mitch Chailland Tweet
Mitch Chailland graduated from the University of Houston and moved to New Orleans in 1992 to start working in the professional employer organization industry. Mitch started Canal HR in 2013 after spending 21 years learning as much as possible about the field. He is currently the President of Canal HR, and he previously served on the Board of the Professional Association of Co-Employers (PACE), a PEO trade association, for over ten years.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Mitch Chailland: I graduated from the University of Houston and moved to New Orleans in 1992 to work in the professional employer organization industry. I started Canal HR in 2013 after spending 21 years learning as much as possible about the field. At Canal HR, we specialize in providing business owners administrative services, including payroll administration, workers’ compensation, risk management, human resource compliance, and much more. Our program makes it possible for business owners to devote more time and effort to running their businesses instead of messing with seemingly endless paperwork. In addition to serving as the President of Canal HR, I’ve previously served on the Board of the Professional Association of Co-Employers (PACE), a PEO trade association, for over ten years.
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Mitch Chailland: The pandemic has taught me that Canal HR’s hardworking staff has been our most valuable asset in the past few years. Throughout lockdown, we kept the entire staff on payroll whether they could work or not. By ensuring that our employees knew we were there for them through tough times, we could strengthen our bond as a workplace and offer even stronger customer-first service. As a result, businesses can thrive in 2022 by putting their employees first and ensuring that they are well-paid, well-insured, and protected at home and work.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Mitch Chailland: As business owners, we have survived tough times and hard decisions. To stay on your toes and keep growing in 2022, you must be flexible, adapt, and overcome no matter the obstacle. Embrace change, and take good care of your employees. They’re your most important asset and the key to a strong business.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Mitch Chailland: As a PEO, Canal HR runs payroll and administers employee benefits for various companies. When COVID-19 restrictions began, and a portion of our clients shut down their businesses, they had to stop running payroll. Afterward, the government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Payroll Protection Program, so we had to familiarize ourselves with these programs very quickly to help our clients and their employees.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Mitch Chailland: The best advice I could’ve received at the start of the pandemic would’ve been to think on my feet and adapt quickly. At the beginning of the pandemic, Canal HR employees started to work from home, and we switched around work hours for others. We had to adapt quickly as new regulations emerged with the Payroll Protection Program, new unemployment regulations, and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Flexibility and open communication with my team has gotten us through the pandemic so far, and I intend to continue improving those skills in 2022.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Mitch Chailland: In 2022, I expect more businesses to refine their approaches to remote work. Whether your workplace is hybrid or fully remote, working from home brings with it a whole new set of challenges that PEOs like Canal HR can help you handle. PEOs are equipped to manage this increased interest in remote labor from human resource compliance to affordable healthcare benefits.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Mitch Chailland: At Canal HR, my staff and I are available by email or phone from 9-5, and most days, I am at the computer for those hours unless I am meeting with a client in person.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Mitch Chailland: Cultivating a strong feedback culture is essential in communicating effectively with your team, and one of the ways that I foster open communication is by encouraging feedback daily. For example, asking an employee how they are doing on a project is a step towards creating a feedback culture, increasing efficiency while fostering multi-level engagement throughout the company.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Mitch Chailland: The real challenge of 2022 is fostering and retaining talent. Unfortunately, many organizations are losing their workers due to low pay, poor benefits, and weak company culture. To combat resignation and create a workspace where employees feel protected and valued, organizations should prioritize their mental and physical wellbeing. Hiring a PEO to help create a comprehensive benefits package can help businesses combat these losses, retaining employees and increasing productivity.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Mitch Chailland: While I pride myself on staying up to date with digital advancements in the workplace, I’m a firm believer in the importance of human connection over flashy technology. At Canal HR, our customer service sets us apart from our local and regional competitors, and we’re proud to be available to our customers for face-to-face meetings or phone calls whenever they need them.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Mitch Chailland: Leaders in the workplace take their employees for granted far too often, assuming that a steady paycheck is enough to retain workers. However, businesses need to invest in their employees to retain talent and create a supportive and engaging work environment. Offering comprehensive benefits programs and robust retirement plans with the help of a PEO will not only help you retain employees longer but also create a healthier workplace environment that values its workers.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Mitch Chailland: If I could pick any business superpower, I would want to be available to my clients 24/7. While work-life balance is important, especially for my employees, I would love to be there for clients whenever they need me, no matter the time of day or day of the week. Obstacles can crop up at any time, and I want to support my clients through them.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Mitch Chailland: Success has always been to offer the best PEO services in New Orleans, Louisiana. Canal HR’s commitment to superb customer service goes along with our local-first mentality, and our goal has never been to grow large and go national. In 2022, I hope to continue growing the company and helping other business owners provide excellent employee support.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Mitch Chailland for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Mitch Chailland or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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