What is HR: Key Functions and Responsibilities

Behind every thriving organisation lies the heartbeat of Human Resources. Human Resources (HR) go beyond just one department; they form the catalyst of the organisation’s strategic vision. From recruitment to retirement, they are critical to maintaining a positive work environment and ensuring compliance with employment laws. Furthermore, as the corporate world evolves, the importance of HR in shaping adaptable and resilient organisations will constantly empower us. Let’s dive deeper into our blog to discover What is HR, their key functions, roles, and responsibilities that constitute HR an indispensable pillar in the corporate structure.

Table of Contents 

1) Understand What is HR

2) Functions of Human Resources 

       a) Payroll Manager

       b) HR Administrative Assistant

       c) HR Managers and HR Executive

3) What Are the Types of Human Resources Roles?  

4) Conclusion 
 

Understand What is HR

Human Resources (HR) are the crucial cornerstone for any organisational success, providing invaluable support in all management departments. Since the advent of modern corporate practices, they have played a multifaceted role in the rapidly evolving business environment, shaping everything from the hiring and selection process to the management of the company.  

They also play a crucial role in developing a highly efficient and productive workforce through continuous training and development programs. They are, in fact, responsible not only for different compensations, benefits, and performance programs for employees, but also act as advocates of Employee interests in terms of organisational well-being and culture. 

An HR department serves as the guardian of legal compliance, as the people working therein should know about the ever-occurring employment laws and regulations to ensure protection for the company and its employees. In such a dynamic landscape, HR makes a key contribution to improving organisational performance and competitiveness through satisfaction, engagement, and employee retention by creating inclusive and supportive workplaces.



 

Functions of Human Resources 

Human resources have a critical role in maintaining the integrity and seamless functionality of businesses. Here are some of their critical functions explained in the upcoming sections:  

1) Talent Acquisition 

Hiring is a critical function that necessitates strict professionalism, which can only be provided by Human Resource departments. It may involve CV screenings and interviews to choose the most capable candidates to propel the organisation forward. HR professionals assist in negotiating service terms and conditions to ensure that both the company and the applicant are satisfied.   

They conduct credential checks, employment history, and criminal records to validate the details declared by the recruit. Besides, HR is integral in guiding the onboarding process by providing the required training, orientation, and support that enable the new staff members to settle comfortably within the new working environment and function efficiently

2) Hiring Employees 

Human Resources (HR) departments are perceived as the entity that carries out recruitment, involving the identification, attraction, and retention of excellent talent to bring success to the organisation. HR professionals, therefore, diagnose organisational functional and operational needs, screen for the required qualifications and requirements, and then refine the process to identify and engage with the best candidates.   

They actively search the market for talent, utilising all recruitment means to cultivate the best performers. In some cases, these recruitment efforts involve HR professionals directly approaching skilled professionals from competitors. HR plays a crucial role in maintaining ethical recruitment practices, ensuring the organisation has a competent and diverse workforce, which supports growth and the firm's objectives.

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3) Handling Payroll 

HR professionals accurately calculate employees' salaries, taxes, and deductions to fulfill all regulatory and in-house policy requirements. They pay close attention to the payroll process by ensuring timely and accurate pay to all employees to win their trust and workforce satisfaction. 

They actively seek to detect any dispute related to payrolls and react swiftly, either through investigation or resolution, to maintain employee morale and organisational integrity. Furthermore, they are responsible for contributing significantly to organisational stability through improved Employee Engagement and retention

4) Policy Updates 

The HR function ensures the organisation's compliance with ongoing labour laws, regulations, and even industry standards. Moreover, they regularly review policies and procedures to comply with legal requirements and ensure that industry best practices are employed. HR has played its role in effective communication new policies to employees through different channels, bringing complete awareness and compliance to the organisation.   

HR actively seeks feedback from stakeholders to ensure areas of improvement or changes in policy are updated by creating increased positivity at work, which is quintessential to the satisfaction of employees and, by extension, organisational success. HR ensures organisational integrity with an ever-improving sense of organisational culture that is compliant, always remaining vigilant, watching over its shoulders, and rushing to respond to regulation changes.  

5) Employee Record Keeping 

HR maintains confidentiality of information that includes details such as personal information, service records, annual performance appraisal reports, and employees’ training records. They guarantee the authenticity and credibility of the information, its availability, and compliance with organisational and information security laws and regulations. 

Human Resources implements secure systems and protocols to store and retrieve employees' information to deliver effective services, make necessary decisions, and ensure adherence to regulations. Furthermore, comprehensive records enable HR to facilitate effective personnel management, support strategic workforce planning, and provide the organisation with much-needed transparency and accountability.

6) Benefit Analysis 

 Human Resources thoroughly analyses benefit programs to assess their effectiveness and competitiveness in attracting and retaining talent. They collect feedback from employees and ensure their relevancy with current industry benchmarks. They also track cost-effectiveness and identify areas where betterment or realignment is required.   

Since HR balances benefits between employees' needs and organisational objectives, it also offers at least market-competitive Employee Benefits in terms of appeal. It needs to continuously monitor and maintain the amounts of the offerings to ensure that they remain at levels that would provide for well-satisfied, engaged, and taken care of employees in all areas of well-being to remain successful and competitive in the marketplace. 

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7) Benefit Management 

 The administration of the employee benefits program is comprehensive and spans the life cycle of the benefit from enrolment to changes, including termination.  Human Resources are responsible to manages these processes. HR serves as the focal point of contact for employees when they have queries regarding benefits. Additionally, HR effectively communicates the range of benefits so that employees are informed of the available resources and opportunities They also educates employees to maximise the benefits offered, thereby ensuring employees derive utmost benefit in terms of well-being and satisfaction. 

HR oversees Employee Benefit Programs with meticulous attention and active communication, all geared towards ensuring smooth administration that ultimately contributes to a healthy work environment and organisational success. 

8) Disciplinary Actions 

Human Resources deals with disciplinary actions in a fair, consistent, and legally compliant manner. They take appropriate action on any alleged misconduct or performance issues, which includes gathering evidence and determining the necessary course of action. In addition, HR conducts disciplinary meetings, issues warnings or corrective actions, and provides support and resources to help employees improve.

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What Are the Types of Human Resources Roles? 

Human resource is a broader field that incorporates numerous roles and responsibilities. Below, we have mentioned those roles to help you make a seamless decision about your career advancement.

1) Payroll Manager 

Payroll managers are responsible for managing the payroll process within an organisation. They ensure all employees are paid accurately and timely in compliance with government regulations and are aware of the organisational payroll policies.  

2) HR Administrative Assistant 

HR administrative assistant assist the HR managers and executives in the day-to-day clerical activities, ranging from scheduling appointments to managing job application policies. 

3) HR Analyst 

HR analysts are responsible to analyse the Data related to hiring, employee performances, and other HR functions to comes with the valuable insights related to the optimal candidates’ selection. 

4) HR Managers and HR Executive 

HR managers and HR executive (higher than HR managers) are the senior-level HR management who oversees the overall functionality of the HR departments. These include handling sensitive issues like misconduct investigations. 

5) Employee Relations Manager 

Employee relation managers play crucial roles in ensuring the optimal working conditions for the employees. They handle conflicts, address employee grievances, and foster a supporting and employee-friendly work culture within an organisation. 

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Conclusion 

In conclusion, HR's importance lies in aligning employees’ aspirations and professional capabilities with the organisation's objectives. They are continuously pushing beyond advocating for employees’ potential maximisation but also cultivating an organisation that is both surviving and thriving in the long-term corporate ecosystem. We hope you find this blog on ‘What is HR’ useful and informational. 

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