Most companies nowadays will have a Human Resource (HR) Manager on staff but if you’ve never been involved with the department you may wonder what exactly their position entails and if it’s a role that might suit you.
What is Human Resources?
It’s easy to assume that HR representatives simply work as a go-between from upper management to staff but the work is much more varied than you might think. There are actually a number of sub-categories in which the various responsibilities of HR staff can be categorized.
Within Employee Relations, there is already some variety. There is the well-known task of mediating grievances between employees and management or simply between staff. They may also be dealing with union contracts and/or be involved in collective negotiations with staff. They could also be handling employee engagement in some cases organizing courses for staff to undergo though sometimes short course/ training is considered its own category.
HR can be asked to bring new workers into the company, both in hiring and also organizing onboarding and training for new staff. As well as being a point of call while the new workers settle into the workplace. This work sometimes comes under Workforce Employment/Planning but can also overlap with HR Development alongside training for existing staff.
Beyond that HR managers also handle many other aspects of employees day to day life such as Workplace Safety and Risk Management. HR would be completing incident forms, performing basic inspections and ensuring employees have correct and up-to-date safety training to minimize risk. They may also be in charge of employee compensation and bonuses and be a part of the termination process in some cases.
As a rule of thumb if it’s people-centric then it might fall under HR. The categories are loosely defined and what each means can be changed slightly to suit individual companies’ needs as they arise. If this all seems a bit overwhelming it can help to keep in mind that in larger companies there is generally an HR department where all of these responsibilities are split up into smaller roles for several managers.
For example, you may have a Risk Management Manager, Employee Relations Manager and Compensation (Total Rewards) Manager all working together in an HR department in a large company possibly even multiple people in each role, while a small business may only have a single general HR manager who covers a variety of responsibilities.
Why Work in Human Resources?
For many HR could be a great option for their career with a lot of flexibility in the type of company you can work for, since, at least for now, employees are a part of every business.
HR workers will list a number of reasons why they enjoy working in the sector. Most will gesture to their ability to assist people. HR representatives are hugely influential in the well-being of their coworkers, particularly in terms of mental health and some pursue the career in order to have that opportunity to help others.
A good HR manager can break down a problem and find a solution that is amiable for everyone involved and because those problems pop up on a day-to-day basis many managers say the test of their problem-solving skills keeps them engaged and the job interesting.
Others enjoy the economic side of things, managing wages, raises and other compensation alongside payroll managers. This can be another side of things for those more mathematically minded, as well as giving options to keep your job security by staying in the same career and even possibly the same company while changing your responsibilities almost entirely away from more strictly communication-based opportunities.
What are the Requirements to Get a Job in HR?
To find a job as an HR manager it is generally expected that you have obtained a relevant tertiary degree such as a Master of Human Resources Management and in many cases complete an internship within an HR department to get yourself through the door.
You will generally enter the workplace in an entry-level position such as HR representative, associate or administrator or similar position before moving up to an Analyst, Supervisor or Specialist position, before possibly moving up to a position like HR Manager or Director.
Of course, some people find a low or mid-tier position suits them perfectly and choose not to pursue promotion but there is room for upward mobility for those who are looking for that.
Modern HR
HR is a very varied field and with more long-distance workers than ever before employee managers who can adapt to what modern workplaces are becoming are in high demand. Workers have resources now that they’ve never had before, allowing them to make strides in ensuring they are being treated fairly and modern HR departments should be there to assist them in that.
It may not be possible to become an HR manager right out the door but for those willing to work their way into the position it can be a very rewarding and fulfilling career. The variety of tasks and responsibilities as well as the ability to find meaning in the work by helping people makes the role the perfect fit for some people.
We all want to work in collaborative, fair and communicative workplaces and a big part of making that happen is the work happening in HR departments, both seen and unseen.
Chris Pritchard is an Australian freelance writer with an emphasis on politics and video game analysis with a background in both design and fashion.