While playing a central role in an effective organization’s operations, the objective of the human resource department involves aligning the workforce of the company with the goals, values, and cultures of the business. According to According to Charles Spinelli, by adopting different policies, strategies, and processes, HR ensures that the employees are skilled, motivated, and productive. When it comes to HRM functions, the department is responsible for recruiting, selection, development, performance management, and compensation to promote a healthy workplace environment and many more. This article focuses on the key roles carried out by HR professionals.
Depending on the volume of an enterprise, its HR department might be responsible for performing one or more functions that are outlined below:
1. Talent acquisition
The foremost job of the HR department is talent acquisition. It involves the whole process of identifying, interviewing, and acquiring skilled employees as per the needs of the organization that comes under recruitment and selection.
The HR is responsible for preparing the job description, placing advertisements, analyzing the market standard to decide on a competitive salary scale, and conducting interviews. As per the necessity, it can set a several rounds of interviews of candidates with HR, technical managers, higher management, etc. Making sure that all information provided by the candidates before hiring them is correct and proper is essential for the overall safety and security of the existing employees and the organization
2. Employee engagement
The objective of employee engagement in an organization is to enhance the emotional feelings and attachment of employees to the workplace, their job responsibilities, and co-workers. This helps build as well as maintain a healthy and encouraging workplace culture- in which every employee works together to reach common goals, values, and mission. To boost employee engagement, the HR department adopts multiple tactics across all levels of the company to ensure increased productivity. For instance:
- Recognizing individual achievements
- Listening to concerns, communicating new policies
- Organizing different events and company-wide get-together
- Mediating conflicts between employees
- Respectful and unbiased treatment to all employees
3. Compensation and benefits
Calculating and paying fair compensation together with an array of benefits on time is a major function of an HR manager. After all, it is the essence that employees get in exchange for putting in their best effort for the benefit of their company. Apart from paying employee’s salary or wages some of the benefits may include
- Health insurance such as medical, dental, etc.
- 401k opportunities, Education benefits
- Parental leave, Referral bonuses
- Paid holidays and Paid time off
- Relocation assistance and others
4. Performance management
In the highly competitive business landscape, the function of HRM in performance management is immense. Performance management involves every process from reviewing performance against their set goals by the management and helping in developing and optimizing their performance. In general, it is done by using performance tracking tools, training, and coaching apart from rewarding for achieving goals.
5. Development and training
Providing employees with several opportunities to learn emerging technologies, and new skills as well as improving their existing skills is not only beneficial for the company but for employees as well. According to Charles Spinelli, the feeling among employees that the employer is caring and investing in their growth encourages them to engage in their activities and also helps in shaping the business culture. HR department remains responsible for providing needed training aligning with the strategic goals of the business and its legal obligations. Typically, the training sessions may include
- Emerging technologies
- Industry trends
- Recognizing and reporting about workplace sexual harassment
- Welcoming diversity, and inclusivity in the workplace
6. Employee Retention
An organization can hardly sustain and grow if the top talents quit. Thus apart from finding and hiring talented employees, it is one of the major responsibilities of the Human resource department to take different steps and strategies that help retain valuable employees who continually contribute to business productivity. Apart from paying employees with competitive compensations, and benefits, rewarding performers, respectful treatment, providing opportunities for skill development, etc.