Whether you're a business owner or an employee, understanding the role of HR within an organization can be beneficial for everyone. From managing employee relations to ensuring compliance with labor laws and regulations, HR plays a vital role in the success of a business.
Where exactly does HR happen within a company? When should you consider hiring an HR professional?
We answer all of these questions and more below. Let's dive into the who, what, where, when and why of Human Resources:
Who
We’ll come back to this one.
What
HR is the department within an organization that is responsible for managing the people side of the business. This includes recruiting and hiring new employees, managing employee performance, providing training and development opportunities, maintaining employee records, handling employee relations issues, and administering employee benefits.
HR professionals are also responsible for ensuring that the company is providing a safe and healthy work environment for its employees, and that all policies and procedures are in place to protect both the company and its employees. They also ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations, and play a key role in creating and maintaining a positive company culture and fostering a sense of community among employees.
In other (much simpler) words: HR is responsible for managing the people side of the business and ensuring that the organization has the right people in the right roles to achieve its business objectives.
Where
This is the most overlooked part of HR. Where does it happen within an organization? The answer is: everywhere. HR is intertwined with almost every other area of your business. Which makes sense since HR is responsible for managing the people of a business. People touch all areas of a business, so too should your HR.
When
A company should consider hiring an HR professional when they reach a certain size or complexity in terms of employees, or when they need specialized expertise in areas such as recruitment, compliance, or employee relations. If you find that you’re spending more time on the people of your business, rather than on your actual business it may be time for HR support.
Why
HR is important to companies for several reasons. HR is critical for hiring, training, employee benefits and compensation, employee performance and more. But HR really shines when it plays a key role in creating and maintaining a positive company culture and fostering a sense of community among employees. This is essential for employee engagement and retention, which in turn can lead to higher productivity and improved business outcomes.
Now, what about the “who”?
Who
Knowing when to hire someone for HR is tough. Often, business owners know they need help in this area but they are not quite ready to hire someone, for any number of reasons. That’s where Forward Level can come in. Did you know we offer HR monthly retainers?
– – –
Forward Level HR partners with businesses to consider current and future people and culture needs of their organization. From simple housekeeping items like those listed here to building a strategic HR road map to align with the goals of your business, an HR partner can add value and unique perspective to help you grow your business and support your people.
Contact Leona today to see how HR can help your business grow.