The Importance of Human Resources in the Modern Workplace

How important are HR Policies and Human Resources to the modern workplace? In this article, we’ll break down all you need to know about the purpose of each, how they differ, and how they can help your company grow as an employer of choice in today’s market. You might be surprised by what you find out! Let’s get started...

What are human resources?

In a nutshell, human resources are all of your employees or people who work for you. If you have more than 20 employees, you’re required to have an HR department and employee handbook to ensure your employees understand what is expected from them. That makes HR pretty important. Most companies also have an HR specialist—either called an HR manager or an employee-relations manager—who oversees everything HR-related (i.e., recruiting, interviewing, payroll, U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act [FMLA], strategic planning).

Managers need HR people too

A good manager knows he can’t do it all himself, and knowing where to turn for help is a critical leadership skill. That’s why managers need HR people too. The best leaders know when to consult experts, and their organizations are better for it. But not just any expert will do. You have to have a relationship with your HR staff so you can trust that they’ll provide sound advice and objective guidance when needed—not to mention valuable insights into compensation trends and other information helpful for planning and forecasting your business’s human capital needs.

HR ensures consistency across departments

The most important role played by HR is to ensure that all employees are on-boarded and working with a uniform set of principles. At every stage, from onboarding, designing benefits and organizing events, employee management goes a long way in ensuring there’s complete consistency across departments. A well-planned organizational development strategy backed by an efficient staff communication system keeps organizations moving forward and helps them meet their objectives. As leaders create strategies for growth and success, it’s HR that carries out those plans on the ground, making sure everything is running smoothly. For businesses to take off exponentially HR needs to keep all wheels moving in sync and shape up as an essential link between organizational goals and daily activities.

3 Reasons why you should hire a Human Resource professional now

The U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires that companies with over 50 employees allow eligible employees to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if they had not taken leave. Employee Benefits Design: Today, employers offer benefits packages customized to meet their business needs and attract top talent.

Hiring is an art. Get help with it.

It's tough to pinpoint exactly what makes an outstanding employee, but that doesn't mean you should try doing it alone. Find a good intermediary who can take on some of the weight, allowing you to focus on higher-level goals and strategies. Doing so is particularly important when you're looking for interim management or professional HR services. Whether they serve as employees or vendors, working with well-trained professionals can save you countless hours and headaches. Make sure your company has an adequate HR strategy in place before bringing in third parties—you want your company's culture to be respected at all times.

Employees aren’t robots, they have feelings too.

It’s no secret that employee engagement plays a critical role in overall company performance. According to Gallup, highly engaged workers are nearly twice as likely to report productivity levels 15% higher than their disengaged counterparts. But sometimes it can be difficult for employees and their leaders to understand what engagement means or how they can promote it within their own teams and organizations. One thing is clear, however: businesses won’t achieve peak performance unless employees are engaged and energized about their work. The good news is that engaging employees doesn’t have to be rocket science, and there are plenty of practical ways for companies to engage with their workforce on a daily basis.

Employers want to be sure they get it right.

Even if you don’t know anything about how to become a human resources manager, you probably know that companies invest heavily in hiring good talent. Their investment isn’t just about attracting talent—it’s also about retaining it. Because employers want to be sure they get it right when it comes to recruiting and compensating employees, they have turned to an increasingly popular resource: HRIS systems. These include tools for tracking information such as job descriptions, employment contracts, payroll management, employee engagement surveys and training records. They can even help by evaluating employees according to standards that are both legally valid and reliable across different regions. A good HRIS system is invaluable for ensuring that companies are on top of important developments when it comes to labor and employment law