HR 101: Why You Need Human Resources

You need HR support to help manage people effectively, avoid costly mistakes and stay out of court. A skilled HR Specialist can do all this for you so you can operate the business and generate profits.

As the name implies, HR specialists focus on people management and this includes resolving the ever present problems that arise when a group of people do something together, like run a company. A critical part of that is knowing which Federal and State labor laws apply to your company and complying with those laws.

The cost of the HR support is minuscule compared to the cost of a workforce hampered by morale issues or the dollar cost of losing a trial in court.

Let me say it again, paying for HR support is cheaper than paying in court. Plus your company will run better when employees are managed well and treated with respect in a law compliant workplace.

Lance

HR 101: Who Needs Human Resources?

The short answer is: every company.

The only real question is: how much and how often?

A great answer is helpdeskHR for the Human Resources support you really do need. But only when you need it and at reasonable hourly rates.

There are dozens of Federal and State laws to comply with, and some apply to all companies, regardless of size. A listing of the major laws will be available on the helpdeskHR website, currently under construction.

It is my professional opinion that it is better to be ahead of the curve and in compliance with labor laws than defending your company in court of in front of some government alphabet agency.

helpdeskHR gives you access to HR expertise forged through in-your-face experience in the real business world.

Lance

HR 101: What Is HR Anyway?

Most business professions describe what they do in their name. This is especially true of Human Resources. Of all the resources a business has such as buildings, fixtures, tools or raw materials, it is the people who make the company go. No people equals no business.

We're going to look at the various elements of HR and what each contributes.

Here's a list of the basic and advanced elements which I call HR 101:
-labor law compliance
-recruitment
-employee documents
-compensation
 -employee relations
-employee discipline
-performance reviews
-safety

These elements are basic to every company, there are other functions that can be part of HR depending on the size and type of business.

Next we'll examine each one.

Lance

HR 101: What a "Company" Really Is

I described the Human Resources function as interactivity between Company and Employees, differentiating between management employees and direct employees.

In my world, a "Company" is the sum total of all the people who are employed by it.

Employees are the Company. It's that basic.

Employees who are happy employees generate happy customers. Employees who are treated with respect, managed well and receive a total compensation that is fair and motivating will invariably produce work that will satisfy and keep customers.

It is the charter of the Human Resources employees to insure that the work environment I just described is created and maintained.

Then the interests of the Company and the interests of the employees are one in the same.

Lance

HR 101: What is Human Resources?

The Human Resources discipline is referred to as HR in business. HR's primary value is providing the infrastructure for the continuous interaction and communication an organization's management group and the direct employees. The result should be growth and prosperity of the company and all of the employees.

HR has a dual mission to champion the company's interests and represent employees. Company success and the fair and respectful managing of employees are so intertwined as to become the same thing.

The communications and interactions that go on are the daily life of the company and the better this works the more successful the company becomes.

Sample elements of this infrastructure often include:
-Legal Compliance
-Employee Problem Resolution
-Company Culture
-Organization Dynamics
-Employee Handbooks
-HR Policies and Procedures
-Recruiting New Employees
-Compensation and Benefits
-Employee Communications Programs

There is a lot more and we will talk about it all.

Lance