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What are the Different Types of Human Resources Functions?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 77,084
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Human Resources (HR) functions deal with the management and organization of employees. Human resources management is responsible for recruiting, hiring, firing, and training employees. It also develops and implements company policy.

All departments of a company rely on human resources, as it is concerned with all of the people that work for the business. Human resources functions include creating and implementing management policies that comply with government regulations and laws. For example, company payment policies must coordinate with minimum wage laws. Business pay and time structures also have to support laws requiring that employees take a set amount of breaks during the workday.

Making sure a business upholds government safety requirements, such as requiring the wearing of steel-toed work boots in a warehouse, is another responsibility of human resources. Human resources directors must also ensure that all employees have the required credentials and training for their jobs. For instance, some truck drivers and warehouse staff need hazardous materials training or certificates if they work with certain chemicals.

Human resources functions also include making decisions about staffing in different departments according to company needs. For example, some departments may require temporary personnel, while others need full-time employees. Human resources directors make decisions about outsourcing, or hiring independent contractors, for short-term work projects. A company may hire a freelance writer to write a product brochure, for example.

Hiring and firing staff are two of the main human resources functions. The required paperwork must be filled out according to the law. Records must be kept for income tax purposes. The human resources department has to ensure all of the needed forms are properly filled out each time an employee is hired or leaves the company. Human resources departments keep track of each employee's work hours, sick days, and vacation time.

When company departments are hiring new staff, HR functions offer support. For instance, a human resources director may conduct telephone interviews with a list of job applicants as a way of screening each applicant before the in-person interview stage. A short list of suitable applicants is then contacted for in-person interviews by the department managers.

Recruiting is one of the constant human resources functions. Many human resources departments regularly place employment ads, either online or in local newspapers, to ensure they have a fresh supply of job applicants. Human resources managers recruit, contact, and screen applicants for current positions that need filling, as well as keep resumes from qualified applicants on file for future possible jobs in the company.

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Discussion Comments
By anon347550 — On Sep 08, 2013

I would like a comprehensive note on the different types of human resources functions.

By sunshine31 — On Sep 20, 2010

BrickBack- Also those interested in the field of human resources training should join the American Society of Training and Development, which is otherwise known as ASTD.

This organization has a lot of networking and educational opportunities and usually has monthly meetings.

By BrickBack — On Sep 20, 2010

SauteePan-In order to work in human resources it is really important to seek a human resource training certification called the SHRM.

This in conjunction with a four year degree allows you better opportunities in the human resources field with high compensation.

Many people entering the human resources field usually begin in the recruiting. A company either hires them directly or get their experiences working for staffing firms.

Many companies like to hire people from staffing firms because they know that they are familiar with working in a fast paced environment.

By SauteePan — On Sep 20, 2010

SurfNturf-Many companies seek human resource outsourcing in order to save money.

Outsourcing human resource function is very common among companies that are downsizing. What they often do is contact PEO’s which stand for Professional Employee Organizations. These PEO companies handle payroll, background checks, recruiting and training functions for companies in order to save them time and money.

By surfNturf — On Sep 20, 2010

Latte31-I think human resources compensation is a vital part of any job description. If an employee is well compensated they are less likely to leave which is usually best for the company.

Reduced turnover saves the company a lot of money and compensation is usually one of the main reasons that people leave of job.

By latte31 — On Sep 20, 2010

Human resources compensation is an arm of human resources that details the salary ranges of various titles within the company.

These salary ranges give those that work as human resource manager’s flexibility in extending offers of employment to acceptable candidates.

The compensation manager is really in charge of designing the appropriate salary structure for the company. This may be done by conducting research in the form of surveys.

The compensation manager also might create additional incentive programs such as a bonus structure and other incentive programs to offer competitive compensation in order to attract and retain the best employee prospects.

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