The main function of HR department is to oversee department functions and manage employees by planning, implementing, and evaluating human resources policies, principles, and programs. Basically, it involves functional activities including hiring qualified employees, establishing compensation structure, training staffs, addressing employee relations matters, and maintaining workplace safety.
Function Units:
- Recruitment
- Compensation and Benefits
- Employee Relations
- Training and Development
- Workforce Safety
An HR organizational chart example:
1. Recruitment:
Recruitment is a vital task for HR department because it determines what kind of people will work for the company – whether they have the right knowledge and skills, and whether they are suitable for the position or not. To accomplish this mission, they HR department need to develop and execute quality recruitment strategies to ensure that recruitment meets all affirmative action commitments.
2. Compensation and Benefits:
HR manager needs to establish strategic compensation plans, ensuring wages and reward programs are administrated equally throughout the workforce. They need to provide employees with benefit options, including health insurance, retirement planning, life insurance, etc. What’s more, they are responsible for authorizing salary changes, position changing an election.
3. Employee Relations
HR department is also responsible for investigating and solving employee complaints, conflicts and concerns. Many possible issues might arise in a company. For example, an employee is not satisfied with his performance assessment result and seeks for revision. If this kind of circumstance happens, the HR department needs to research on this issue, and solve the problem by negotiating with his superior.
4. Training and Development
Through effective training, employees could enhance their knowledge, skills and work abilities, so that they can improve their job performance. Human resource department conduct needs analysis to decide what training is necessary to improve performance and productivity.
5. Workforce Safety
HR department needs to ensure every staff working in a safe environment. It’s their obligation to research and develop safety policies for the company that is in compliance with state and federal laws and regulation. They need to identify unsafe conditions and make clear notice on potential dangerous matters such as dangerous equipment, chemical drugs, radioactive substances, etc.