Most medium-large businesses have at least one HR manager, if not an entire HR department. It’s standard practice in a lot of workplaces and an accepted part of staffing, but you may be wondering what exactly it is that HR actually does. Read on to find out…
Day to day processes
There are a lot of things that HR does that isn’t glamorous but is very necessary. For example, organising the payroll and ensuring that all employees are paid correctly and at the right time. They are likely to do this using dedicated software, and there are plenty of processes that use HR systems in UK – explore your options. Different companies may require their HR department to do slightly different tasks depending on the size of the business, and staff, etc., but managing payroll is one of the most common for a lot of teams, as being paid is so important.
Recruitment and onboarding
As a business grows, more staff may need to be hired, and it is HR’s responsibility to manage all the elements involved in this. They will discuss with the appropriate people what the job description should entail and then promote the job to get plenty of candidates. They will do the interview (alongside other relevant people) and complete the hiring process and paperwork. They will then have to go through an onboarding process to integrate the new hire into the team and get them ready to start.
Planning, running training and development opportunities
Part of HR’s role is to get the most out of employees, and this means developing their skills – either to help them complete their work more efficiently or to encourage them to climb up the corporate ladder. They will access what training is required by looking at gaps in knowledge and the aspirations of the staff. Investing in people will help keep them loyal to the company.
Policies and benefits
There are so many policies and benefits that HR must keep on top of, such as maternity leave, sick pay, and expenses. They may act as a liaison between staff and boss to develop or amend policies and must be aware of the legalities of certain aspects (such as legal working hours etc.) to ensure that the company is always operating above board. They may negotiate various benefits packages too, which is another way to help with employee retention and keep things working in a positive way.
Conflict resolution
In any place with people, there is likely to be some sort of conflict at some point, so part of HR’s tasks is to deal with any complaints and resolve any issues. This part of the job involves being impartial and objective but also being a good communicator and patient. It’s certainly not for everyone, but it is very important.
These are just a few of the areas that an HR manager would work within. Their role is to ensure that the workplace is a happy, legally compliant, and efficient one, so the importance of their job really cannot be overstated.
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