The personnel manager, or head of human resources, is the person in a company in charge of not only staffing but managing areas related to employees and their jobs. The personnel manager is involved with workers from the time a prospective employee interviews for the job until the moment the employee leaves, although this involvement is often behind the scenes.

Maintaining the Talent Pipeline

The personnel manager is often the first person an employee talks to after being hired by a department head. The personnel manager ensures the employee brings in all paperwork necessary to complete the employment process, including proof of educational background, citizenship and other items an individual company requires. The personnel manager begins building an employee file at this point.

Employee Guidelines and Initiation

The personnel manager goes over the employee handbook with each new employee, ensuring all of the rules of the company are explained in detail. These include sick policies, employee benefits and consequences for any behavior the company does not tolerate. After the handbook has been presented and explained to the new employee, the personnel manager has the new employee sign off.

Initiating the paperwork for employee health benefits is also one of the duties of the personnel manager. The personnel manager should have enough understanding of the available health benefit options to explain them to new employees and also coordinates with health insurance agents to come in house to explain the policy to new employees.

Company Training and Health Requirements

Personnel managers typically set up and manage any additional training employees receive through the course of their employment. Personnel managers are often involved with employees in jobs where regular vaccinations are required, such as in health-related jobs. The personnel manager sends out reminders to employees when they are due to have any shots necessary as a term of employment.

If the company has an in-house nurse, the personnel manager helps employees coordinate a time to take shots. For training, the manager contacts trainers to provide in-house sessions, then contacts employees who need the training. The personnel manager also consults with supervisors to coordinate appropriate times to take an employee away from his job for training.

Feedback and Exit Interviews

The role of a personnel manager, in many companies, is also to conduct exit interviews. The exit interview is not required by law, but may companies use them as a means of determining reasons for losing employees. At this time, the personnel manager explains your rights regarding issues such as keeping your health insurance if you choose. The personnel manager also asks you questions regarding your experience working with the company.