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Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
How to Manage a Human Resources Department
The human resources department of a business is instrumental when it comes to recruiting and retaining employees. It is responsible for various different aspects of employing and managing a workforce, including employee salaries, benefits, and training. A human resources department will also step in to deal and resolve any issues that occur between employees and members of management.
Human resources, which is widely referred to as just ‘HR’, helps to create a positive culture in the workplace and a successful human resources department can be the difference between a successful and struggling business. Therefore, whether you are a small business with only one-person responsible for human resources, or you are a bigger business with an entire department dedicated to creating a supportive and professional environment, it is important that you manage human resources correctly. To make this easier for you, we have put together this useful guide that provides you with all the information you need to know on how to successfully manage a human resources department.
Create a Solid Team
It is essential that every workplace has a solid team in place to ensure a productive and efficient company, and a human resources department is no different. As the human resources department is responsible for the hiring of staff, you should ensure that good members of staff are hired and that they will make a positive contribution to the workplace environment. While a small business may only have one person in charge of human resources, it is important that it still features in the daily running of the company. The number of staff members in a human resources department will depend on how many members of staff the company employees, as well as how much the budget can afford. If you have a budget that permits it, you should aim to hire specialists for each aspect of the department.
Provide the Right Training
If you want to manage a human resources department successfully then you need to make sure that your team of staff have the right training needed for them to do their job properly. Many business owners make the mistake of thinking that they can hire fully trained staff and not provide them with any further training. Instead, it is important that you keep investing in your team and provide them with opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding. For example, your human resources staff can study for online for a graduate certificate in human resource management in order to advance their HR skills and capabilities. Studying online is a great way for you to encourage the professional development of your staff members, alongside their work and family commitments.
Confidentiality is Key
Staff members that work within human resources come into contact with a lot of sensitive and private data about other members of the workforce, so confidentiality is key when running a successful department. All employees in the business need to know that any issues that are dealt with by HR are going to remain private and won’t be discussed during the next coffee break. If your department can’t ensure that confidentiality is ensured at all times, then they are not a successful or effective HR department. Human Resources are often trusted to deal with serious and sometimes sensitive issues, such as harassment complaints and disputes, so discretion is an essential part of the job.
Make Your Expectations Clear
Just like when managing any department, it is important that you make it clear to your team exactly what you expect of them. This ensures that no miscommunications occur which can lead to errors or problems arising. Each individual member in the department should be aware of what their responsibilities include, and that all tasks they are given are to be completed both correctly and efficiently. Team members that are clear on what is expected from them and are held accountable for their own tasks are much more likely to be productive and successful. A great way to ensure that your expectations are clear is to provide your human resources department clear objectives to aim towards.
Communication is Everything
A successful human resources department has a good and strong relationship with other departments and members of staff in the company, which means that issues are dealt with easily and quickly. All employees should be aware of what the human resources department can do for them, and which member of the department they should contact depending on their issue or query. This is because the process of dealing with a complaint becomes more effective when the right people deal with the right issues. For example, you may separate your human resources department into small teams, such as a payroll team, and complaints team to ensure that you are making the most of individual strengths.
Stick to Company Procedures and Policies
One of the main functions of a human resource department is to ensure that all members of staff and management are all adhering to company policies and procedures to establish the smooth running of the company. Therefore, you should ensure that you and your staff have detailed knowledge of the different policies that the company has in place so that all employees know what the company expects of them and how their queries or complaints will be dealt with in compliance with the company procedures. By following the policies that are in place, you can ensure that your human resources department establishes a fair and equal workplace environment that all members of the team can benefit from.
Many business owners disregard and underestimate the importance of a well-managed and successful human resources department. But a company that truly cares about its employees and is concerned about overall business growth and productivity will put the resources they have available into developing the human resource aspects of their business. Managing a human resources department often involves being aware of the needs of the company and the workforce and ensure that all needs are met fairly and appropriately.
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