A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
Do you ever wonder why the field of human resources is the way it is? How it has evolved? In our first lesson, we'll travel through history to explore the roots of human resources. You'll see how the modern human resource function has evolved from trade guilds, through the industrial revolution, to modern times.
Friday - Lesson 02
What exactly does the human resource professional do on the job? In this lesson, we'll take a look at the variety of vital activities that are frequently included in the human resources function. This variety can include everything from recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees, to labor management relations and workplace safety and training.
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
How does someone go about finding and hiring a new employee? The initial preparation for hiring is often done in the quiet of an office, which may make it seem like new employees just magically appear. Today, we'll explore what goes on in that quiet office to ensure that the employee who appears is the right one for the job. We'll focus on preparing advertisements and application forms, how to review and screen applications, conduct interviews, and verify information to ensure that it's correct.
Friday - Lesson 04
Interviews and background checks are key components of the hiring process. The interview is your chance to evaluate the job applicant in person to see how well his or her skills match your job requirements. So today, we'll look at each part of the interview—from how to set it up and what approach to take to rating the person after the interview.
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
How do you get someone to apply for a job? Solid recruiting practices using both traditional and nontraditional techniques will ensure that you have a large pool of applicants from which to pick and choose. Traditionally, many companies simply run a classified job ad when they need a new employee, but in this lesson, we'll explore other alternatives that may be equally effective in recruiting.
Friday - Lesson 06
What motivates a quality employee to stay on the job? What can you do to keep employees happy and working? In this lesson, we'll analyze job satisfaction and the factors that keep employees happy. Then we'll look at some unique programs that provide incentives for employees to stay on the job a long time.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
What rights do employees have? What are moral rights and how can the company protect them? What is the difference between a moral and a legal right? This lesson explores both moral and legal rights and how they can be used to benefit employees. We'll also take a look at what to do if an employee complains that either moral or legal rights are not being protected.
Friday - Lesson 08
What legal responsibilities does a company owe its employees? Today's lesson provides an overview of the many laws that impact the workplace. We'll examine laws that govern union-management interactions, prohibit discrimination, set wage and hour requirements, and set benefit and safety standards. I'll also point out some Internet resources that will help you easily stay up to date as these laws change.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
Do you have a policy manual at work? What policies are included in the manual? How does anyone ever decide what policies to include? In this lesson, we'll take a look at policy manuals—what they should include, what policies are most common, and what you should do to ensure that your policies comply with the law.
Friday - Lesson 10
How can workplace communication be effective? What should you do to ensure that communication is taking place on a regular basis? Today, we'll focus on the need for effective communication programs at work and how to implement them. You'll find out how to keep communication running smoothly throughout the organization.
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
What should a strong employee benefit program include? What is involved in putting a benefit package together? Benefits are a great way to attract and keep employees. So today we'll take a look at such common employment benefits as insurance and retirement. We'll cover how to put together a benefit package, and options for including free benefits that are attractive to employees.
Friday - Lesson 12
Have you ever wondered what makes a human resource professional successful? In our final lesson, we'll take a look at eight habits that successful professionals adopt. You'll leave with the insight and ability to achieve excellence at work!