Human resources managers are integral to the success of companies in every industry. Employees are a company’s most expensive and valuable asset; human resources managers are responsible for maximizing the value obtained from employees.
To do the best job possible, however, human resources managers must look at employees as individuals and work to make a job both pleasant and conducive to productivity. The following are a few tasks that human resources regularly handle in an organization, though the specific tasks assigned to human resources managers may vary slightly from company to company.
Recruit New Employees
Hiring is important to keep a company functioning and working towards future growth. Human resources managers are often tasked with sourcing new employees, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding. These tasks may be shared with recruiters and managers, responsibilities may be divided across different lines depending on the preferences of the employer.
Handle Administrative Tasks
Administrative tasks such as running payroll, processing time off requests, scheduling employees, and organizing employee files are very important in keeping employees content and making sure that a company is compliant with laws. Human resources software has been instrumental in reducing the amount of time spent on these types of tasks, but HR managers must still be proactive in handling these tasks.
Ensure a Safe and Pleasant Workplace
A safe and pleasant work environment can prevent many complications from developing in a workplace. By managing risks to employees, human resources managers help to protect a workplace from lawsuits and penalties, while also protecting workers from bodily harm and emotional strain. Human resources managers must mind all applicable laws in the industry in which they operate to help keep the workplace safe.
Additionally, human resources managers can create and implement training programs and plans that perpetuate a safe environment and a pleasant company culture. By focusing on employee contentment and safety, human resources managers create a desirable atmosphere while minimizing turnover and productivity problems.
Organize Labor Strategically
Organizing labor should never be left entirely to a human resources manager or department, but should be a joint effort between managers, employers, and HR managers. Human resources managers can assist with strategic labor organization by creating succession plans, developing goal tracking programs for employees, and setting up empowering training programs that allow employees to grow at their own pace.
Relate to Employees
Human resources managers act as a strong force in managing employer-employee relations. While handling administrative tasks and developing programs are important functions, it’s also important for human resources managers to speak with employees one-on-one periodically and take steps to make sure that employees feel comfortable and content with the job. If conflicts develop, human resources managers should also be proactive about managing these issues.
No matter the size of a company or the industry in which it operates, all companies can benefit from having at least one human resources manager. While job duties may vary and change with technology and other progress, managing a company’s people will continue to remain a vital function.
