The Role of Human Resources
This chapter provides an overview of human resources management through definitions, functions, skills required, and challenges encountered. At the end, read the Chapter Case and note your answers.
What Is Human Resources?
Key Takeaways
- Capital includes all resources a company uses to generate revenue. Human resources or the people working in the organization are the most important resource.
- Human resource management is the process of employing people, training them, compensating them, developing policies relating to the workplace, and developing strategies to retain employees.
- There are seven main responsibilities of HRM managers: staffing, setting policies, compensation and benefits, retention, training, employment laws, and worker protection. In this book, each of these major areas will be included in a chapter or two.
- In addition to being concerned with the seven internal aspects, HRM managers must keep up to date with changes in the external environment that may impact their employees. The trends toward flexible schedules and telecommuting are examples of external aspects.
- To effectively understand how the external forces might affect human resources, it is important for the HR manager to read the HR literature, attend conferences, and utilize other ways to stay up to date with new laws, trends, and policies.