Fractional HR Services 

Flexible, On-Demand HR Expertise Without the Cost of a Full-Time Hire

Organizations today often need experienced HR leadership without adding a full-time executive to the payroll. Fractional HR services provide flexible, scalable support from seasoned HR professionals who can step in where and when you need them most.

Through American Society of Employers, employers gain access to strategic HR expertise designed to support compliance, employee relations, talent management, and overall workforce effectiveness.

What is Fractional HR?

Fractional HR is a flexible service model that gives organizations access to experienced HR professionals on a part-time, interim, or project basis. Instead of hiring a full-time HR leader, companies can engage HR expertise for a set number of hours or specific needs.

This model is ideal for organizations that need:

• Strategic HR leadership without a full-time salary commitment
• Support during growth, transition, or restructuring
• Help with compliance, employee relations, or HR operations
• Interim coverage for HR leadership gaps

Fractional HR support can function as your HR director, HR manager, or specialized HR consultant depending on your needs.

Fractional HR Services Include

Our fractional HR professionals provide practical, hands-on support across the full employee lifecycle, including:

HR Strategy and Leadership

• HR policy development and implementation
• Organizational structure and workforce planning
• Leadership coaching and HR strategy alignment

Compliance and Risk Management

• Employment law compliance guidance
• Policy and handbook development
• Workplace investigations and documentation support

Employee Relations Support

• Conflict resolution and coaching
• Performance management guidance
• Employee issue resolution and escalation support

Talent and Workforce Management

• Recruiting and hiring strategy support
• Onboarding process improvement
• Retention and engagement strategies

HR Operations Support

• HR process improvement
• Systems and workflow optimization
• Day-to-day HR advisory support

Who Fractional HR is For

Fractional HR services are a strong fit for organizations that are growing or navigating change, including:

• Small to mid-sized companies without a full HR department
• Organizations experiencing rapid growth
• Businesses between HR leadership hires
• Employers needing specialized HR expertise on demand
• Companies seeking cost-effective HR leadership support

If your organization has HR needs that exceed administrative support but do not require a full-time executive, fractional HR can fill that gap effectively.

See the 5 signs your HR team needs fractional HR support to see if you fall into one of these categories.

Benefits of Fractional HR Support

Organizations choose fractional HR because it provides:

Cost efficiency
Access senior HR expertise without the expense of a full-time hire.

Flexibility
Scale support up or down based on business needs.

Immediate impact
Experienced professionals who can step in quickly and begin solving problems.

Reduced risk
Better compliance, documentation, and HR consistency.

Strategic guidance
Move beyond transactional HR into proactive workforce planning.

When to Consider Fractional HR

You may benefit from fractional HR support if you are experiencing:

• Increasing employee relations issues
• Rapid hiring or organizational growth
• Compliance concerns or policy gaps
• A vacant HR leadership role
• Limited internal HR expertise
• A need for better structure in HR processes

Fractional HR is especially valuable during periods of transition when stability and expertise are critical.

Fractional HR vs. Hiring Full-Time

Why ASE Fractional HR

Working with ASE means you are supported by experienced HR professionals backed by one of Michigan’s most trusted employer associations.

With ASE fractional HR services, you gain:

• Access to seasoned HR leaders with real-world experience
• Support grounded in compliance and best practices
• Integration with broader HR resources and research tools
• Scalable engagement based on your organization’s needs
• A partner focused on practical, business-minded HR solutions

ASE combines hands-on consulting with deep HR knowledge, helping organizations solve immediate challenges while building stronger long-term HR capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does fractional HR mean?

Fractional HR refers to outsourced HR expertise provided on a part-time or as-needed basis, rather than hiring a full-time employee.

How is fractional HR different from outsourcing?

Fractional HR typically involves senior-level HR professionals providing strategic and operational support, while outsourcing is often task-based or administrative.

How much does fractional HR cost?

Pricing varies based on scope, hours, and level of support required. It is generally more cost-effective than hiring a full-time HR leader.

Can fractional HR support replace an HR department?

It can supplement or temporarily function as an HR department for smaller organizations, or support existing HR teams that need additional expertise.

Get Started with Fractional HR Support

If your organization needs experienced HR guidance without the commitment of a full-time hire, fractional HR services can provide the flexibility and expertise you need.

Connect with ASE to explore a solution tailored to your organization’s size, structure, and HR priorities.

ASE Members Save
Members receive preferred pricing on ASE services.

Not a Member?
You can still purchase any ASE service at the non-member rate. Membership is not required.

Our Consultants

Ritu Barkotoky

Strategic HR and talent executive and ICF-certified leadership coach with more than 17 years of experience driving enterprise workforce strategy and hands-on HR operations. Experienced in partnering across complex manufacturing, technology, private equity-backed, automotive, energy, and high-growth startup environments, from the plant floor to the executive suite. Trusted advisor to executive teams, translating business strategy into HR and talent roadmaps that support organizational transformation, mergers and acquisitions integration, leadership development, and scalable people infrastructure.

Jim Doolen
Jon Doolen is the Founder and Chief Strategy Leader of Doolen Strategy Partners. He brings more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning logistics, retail, distribution, construction, manufacturing, recruiting, training, and business operations. A United States Army veteran and graduate of Kansas State University, Jon's work focuses heavily on practical leadership development. His approach emphasizes preparation, communication, accountability, integrity, continuous learning, and helping people become better equipped to solve problems themselves. Jon works with business owners, executives, frontline leaders, professionals in career transition, and organizations seeking to strengthen leadership and workplace performance. He is also an author, trainer, speaker, podcast host, and member of the Maxwell Leadership Team.

Chad Fry

Strategic organizational and human capital leader with extensive experience working for and advising Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 organizations across the financial services, manufacturing, and consumer sectors. Proven expertise in organizational and HR transformation, talent management, change management, and operational excellence. Recognized for aligning people strategies with business objectives, delivering measurable cost savings, and building scalable, future-ready HR functions. Extensive consulting background with leading firms including Accenture, Deloitte, and BearingPoint.

Priscella Horde

Accomplished senior HR leader with expertise in federal mediation, labor negotiations, change management, and employee relations. Recognized for resolving complex workplace disputes, leading organizational transformation, and strengthening labor-management relationships across diverse industries. Proven ability to drive strategic HR initiatives, reduce organizational risk, and improve business performance through relationship-focused leadership.

Jim Lewis

Seasoned human resources executive and former Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for NSF International, where he led global HR strategy and operations during a 26-year career with the organization. Oversaw all HR functions supporting more than 3,000 employees across 40 locations in 18 countries, including talent acquisition and retention, compensation and benefits, training and development, employee relations, litigation management, and strategic workforce planning. Extensive experience leading HR due diligence and workforce integration for more than 15 acquisitions across eight countries. Today, Jim provides executive-level human capital consulting, specializing in merger and acquisition due diligence, post-acquisition workforce integration, executive and board strategic planning, and succession planning. He is also recognized for designing competitive executive compensation programs for privately held and nonprofit organizations, including long-term incentive and phantom stock plans.

Tim Nieboer

Relationship-focused, organized, and strategic leader with cross-functional experience in contract manufacturing, capital equipment manufacturing, office furniture, food packaging, business services, healthcare, and assembly and order fulfillment. Proven track record of delivering exceptional customer service, establishing and executing tactical and strategic initiatives, building high-performing teams and workplace cultures, and achieving business goals in challenging environments.

Pam Prafke

Experienced HR leader with more than 20 years of expertise in employee relations, policy development, compliance, and HR operations. Proven track record of developing and implementing policies, updating employee handbooks, and delivering training programs that support organizational success. Extensive experience supporting company growth through expansions and acquisitions, managing global compliance initiatives, and leading full-cycle recruiting efforts. Skilled in diversity pipeline development, OFCCP audits and compliance, and a wide range of HR generalist and compliance-focused projects.

Karen Straske

Experienced human resources consultant with more than 30 years of HR leadership and consulting experience. Since 2005, Karen has provided customized HR solutions to organizations of varying sizes, including businesses with local, national, and international operations. Her expertise spans employee relations, policy development, compliance, training, and organizational support. Karen partners closely with organizations to develop practical, culture-aligned HR programs and solutions tailored to their specific needs. She has extensive experience delivering training, addressing workplace issues, supporting employee transitions, and helping employers navigate complex HR challenges. Known for her hands-on, collaborative approach, Karen provides both strategic guidance and on-site support to help organizations build effective and compliant workplace practices.

Explore Related Talent Solutions

If you are looking for executive-level financial leadership to support growth, planning, and business performance explore our Fractional CFO Services.

If you need help with payroll administration explore our Fractional Payroll Services.

If you are looking to build your long-term workforce with permanent employees, explore our Direct Hire Recruiting & Professional Search Services to find qualified candidates for critical roles.

If your hiring needs are more flexible or you need immediate workforce support, explore our Temporary & Contract-to-Hire Staffing Services for short-term roles, seasonal coverage, and evaluation-based hiring solutions.