Understanding the Human Resources Function

We'll discuss how employees and employers share a mutually beneficial relationship based on balancing responsibilities and rights. Employees are expected to perform their duties and adhere to workplace rules, while employers must provide a safe environment and comply with employment laws. This dynamic emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and adherence to decided standards. However, history shows many instances of this relationship being abused, leading to significant labor struggles. In this lesson, you'll explore the importance of employee rights, both legally mandated and morally expected, and how respecting these rights creates a workplace culture of fairness and mutual respect.

Navigating the immense number of human resource laws in the United States can be overwhelming, especially with additional regulations at state and local levels and international laws. This lesson will give an overview of human resource laws and their impact on the workplace. While smaller employers might be exempt from some federal laws, similar state laws often apply. You'll learn to recognize the intent of these laws and how they might affect your organization. This lesson will provide insights into the practical application and importance of case law in guiding human resources practices. This knowledge will help you proactively create policies to prevent legal issues.

In this lesson, you will gain an inclusive understanding of human resource management (HRM) and its role in enhancing an organization's performance. We'll define HRM and discuss its key contributions, such as improving productivity, fostering a positive work environment, and aligning the workforce with the organization's strategic goals. You will explore the primary responsibilities of human resource departments. Then, you will examine leadership's role in collaborating with human resource professionals and implementing HR policies and practices.

In this lesson, we will examine the details of developing a solid hiring process amid changing worker availability due to crises, location, industry demand, and demographic changes. The post-COVID-19 worker shortage highlighted the need for human resource professionals to improve recruitment and retention efforts, while events like September 11th and the Enron scandal led to job market declines. Matching applicant skills with job requirements is challenging. Trends like declining birth rates and retiring baby boomers suggest future worker shortages. We will explore effective sourcing and retention strategies incorporating both traditional and innovative recruitment methods that are sure to help you in your human resource career.

This lesson will focus on the hiring and selection process, highlighting the importance of finding and hiring top-quality candidates. We will discuss the necessity of a well-prepared application, crafting attention-grabbing ads, and communicating job expectations to attract top applicants. This process aims to identify the best candidate for the job. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped with strategies to ensure your hiring decisions bring in the most qualified individuals.

In this lesson, you will explore the key elements of compensation management and its importance in human resource strategy. The lesson will define the various factors influencing compensation management, like market competitiveness, budget, job value, and employee performance. You will learn about pay-related mandate laws, including minimum wage and overtime pay, ensuring fair compensation practices. We'll cover various pay strategies and how organizations use these strategies to motivate and retain employees. You will also learn the purpose of a wage survey to help organizations set competitive packages. Through this lesson, you will explore the complexities of designing effective compensation systems.

In today's workplace, employee benefit packages range from basic amenities to extravagant perks. This lesson will explore strategies for implementing and managing these benefits, emphasizing the importance of effective communication to ensure employees are informed and can utilize their benefits. We will discuss the potential for outsourcing. By the end of this lesson, you will learn how to administer benefit programs successfully.

This lesson will introduce you to the foundational concepts of learning and development within organizational growth. First, you will distinguish between learning and development, and then explore adult learning principles. You will identify the steps in course design and compare common facilitation methods, such as lectures, workshops, e-learning, and blended learning. By the end of the lesson, you will have a greater insight into how to effectively design and facilitate learning programs.

This lesson will highlight the importance of employee handbooks as vital tools for guiding new employees. Comparable to a road map for travelers, a well-crated handbook clarifies organizational operations, expectations, and benefits. A company's handbook addresses questions like pay schedules and performance evaluations, helping new hires acclimate more quickly. We will explore the components of a practical employee handbook, the process of creating one, and how to avoid legal pitfalls. The lesson will provide insights into the creation and maintenance of employee handbooks.

As we conclude this course, we will focus on applying human resource principles and predicting future trends. You have gained insights into various human resource functions, and this lesson will emphasize the importance of embracing solid habits and continuous improvement. This lesson will encourage you to reflect on your current practices, identify areas for improvement, and align new habits to maximize your contribution to the workplace.