You probably know that a well-run human resources (HR) department can make a big difference in the success of an organization. Still, chances are you don’t know what HR does, aside from handling conflicts between employees or taking on the dreaded task of laying off workers. If you’re interested in improving your business’s ability to hire, orient, train, and retain good employees, then it’s a good idea to understand the role of HR in your organization.
1. Recruitment
Finding the perfect candidates for job openings in your organization takes skills, and HR has what it takes. Those experienced in human resources know that recruitment requires understanding what an organization needs and creating job advertisements that attract candidates who will fit in with the culture and operations of your business.
2. Workplace Policies
Without a regular review of company policies, you may find that what you currently utilize no longer applies to your employees or your organization’s needs. HR should examine policies yearly and update them when necessary. While there may be times when a policy is simply outdated, some situations may occur that will require a change to prevent future issues.
3. Employee Records
All employees have records on file that the HR department must maintain. State and federal laws require this, which can be a complex process that most managers do not want to deal with. Not only do they contain personal information on all employees, but they may also include any disciplinary actions that may have taken place over the years. This sensitive information should be protected by HR.
4. Continuing Education
Many organizations rely on continuing education to ensure that their employees have career growth opportunities. HR can offer this service for your business, providing additional training for those workers interested in moving up or gaining the experience necessary for a promotion.
5. Disciplinary Action
An unfortunate part of running a business is when employees require disciplinary action. While having HR take on this task doesn’t mean that managers can wash their hands of the situation, it does help to have a third party who can handle the process and help create solutions.
If your business does not have a human resources department, you do not necessarily have to go out and hire multiple new employees to create one. Instead, many organizations rely on HR outsourcing to handle the many tasks a traditional HR department would be responsible for.
