Human Resources are the first team an individual gets to interact with when they enter an organization. The processes and policies extended by this team act as the backbone of an organization’s growth and the employee’s motivation. How do their defined processes and policies impact us? Read on to understand in detail who these individuals are and what their responsibilities are.
Human Resources
Human Resources or HR, as they are known in short, are a group of individuals who are equipped with the responsibility of forming the organization’s workforce and to implement strategies and policies that are related to their management. It is hence named as it deals with the management of the labour force or human resources.
Roles & Responsibilities
Started as an initial movement in 1920, the HR group and their processes underwent constant growth and grew up to a key field of influence on an organization’s policies and development. The main purpose of the implemented HR policies is to maximize returns from the human capital of an organization and to minimize the risks associated with their loss. Thus the HR processes revolve around the main concept of aligning the demand and supply of needed skilled workforce based on the demand of the company. This concept is also supported by policies in place that work towards providing a legal, ethical and a dignified work environment to ensure maximum returns from the human workforce.
HR Processes
The HR team of the top organizations frame policies and processes that are oriented towards effective management of the human workforce. The primary areas of HR processes includes a wide range of activities like recruitment, employee data and document administration, formulation of organizational policies, management of behaviour, conduct and performance, learning solutions and handling of rewards and compensation aspects. Most of these jobs are either directly managed by the HR processes or are supervised by them. Sometimes organizations employ third party vendors for managing certain HR processes.
Impact caused by HR Processes
It is a fact that the HR practices and processes that are adopted by a company or an organization largely affects the efficiency and performance of an employee. The experience of an employee with regards to various aspects of the processes determines their behaviour and attitude at work. The below are few ways in which HR processes can impact the employee experience at work.
a) Well formulated HR processes and strict adherence to the rules will ensure satisfactory employee outcome in organizations. Lack of proper processes tends to decrease the employee’s trust on the organization.
b) A properly documented and stream-lined process can help the employee understand his benefits and rights in the organization. Policies that define the behavioural and attitude aspect of the employees at work will help improve the comfort level of the employees.
c) A complete knowledge of the HR process and guidance from the team will ensure easy confirmation to them thus eliminating the frustration of involved tiresome procedures. Lack of documented procedures will increase re-work and will cause unnecessary loss of productive time. For example, a procedural format that explains the initial joining formalities for a new employee will not only ease his work but also hikes his comfort levels in a new environment.
d) A regular follow-up process on the skills and workforce demands between the management and the HR team can help the right employee being placed at the right job thereby improving employee elimination and satisfaction.
e) Learning management forms a crucial part of the HR process. A clear documentation of the available skills and the needed ones can help in utilizing the organization’s manpower to the maximum. A planned learning scheme can aid in increasing the skill set of an employee to the desired levels.
f) Also a well-defined strategic plan for compensation and employee benefits will provide the needed motivation for the human capital to work in the most effective manner.
The above reasons imply that a well established HR process can impact an employee’s work experience in a positive manner and improve his commitment towards the organization. The HR processes not only define an organizational growth structure but also acts as a catalyst towards efficient employee performance.
