Traditional HR Management

By Business & Finance Last updated Friday, November/08/2024

HR Functions

Typicallly, organizations with less than 50 employees have one person to run HR; an HR department is usually needed once the employee pool tops 50. Whether composed of a single person or a department, basic HRM functions usually include hiring, orientation, training, tracking, monitoring, organizing, rewarding and reprimanding. In certain industries, HR managers may also need to ensure that the company complies with laws and local regulations regarding the employees. Other duties might include payroll, scheduling and benefits administration. HR managers may create a policy manual to guide themselves and others through all the company's HR procedures.

HR managers are often individuals with strong communication skills, because the nature of the work calls for constant interaction with others. To perform all the necessary HR functions, HR professionals are usually motivated, ethical individuals with excellent organization skills and knowledge of labor laws. HR management usually requires a Business Management or Human Resources degree. An associate's degree in HR is usually enough for entry level HR positions, while a bachelor's degree will be helpful obtaining HR jobs with different industries or specific HR roles. As in almost any industry, a master's degree in HR puts the degree holder ahead of other job applicants or employees.

HR managers communicate with employees, peer managers and upper management, and in many cases function as the messenger between these groups. HR managers are expected to communicate effectively and to think through prospective employee issues without much opinion from supervisors. Finally, HR professionals are expected to solve employee problems and keep the company from any employee-related public relations or legal issues.

HRM is beginning to move beyond employee communication and bookkeeping and into the realms of attracting, motivating and retaining the company's personnel. The HRM manager may be in charge of workplace planning, finding out what needs to be done, which existing employees can do it, and if a new employee needs to be hired. In some situations, HR managers are required to be employee career counselors, helping the employees mature and advance within the company.