What Are the Three Key Elements of Human Resources?

Human resource professionals work with a company’s most valued assets – its employees. While fulfilling the goals and mission of the business, it’s the responsibility of the HR department to ensure appropriately qualified people are in place to effectively carry out the work. At the same time, HR professionals must monitor and maintain the workforce to ensure its satisfaction with the jobs to retain experienced staffers. All the while, HR coordinates with other departments, the executive officers and outside vendors.

When most people think of an HR department, they think only of the people who create job postings, take in resumes and do the hiring for an organization. While this is one of the most important of the human resource responsibilities, it is by far not the only duty. In addition to crafting a want ad to attract the ideal candidates, human resources coordinate with the hiring manager, wade through the influx of resumes and set up interview appointments. Once hired, the human resource department works closely with employees in a continuing effort to retain those staff members.

The second most important element of the human resource department is its selection, oversight and administration of the company benefits. HR professionals are involved in choosing the appropriate insurance carriers, providing employees with the information about available benefits and administering the plan when necessary. HR keeps up with vacations, company retirement programs such as 401(k) plans and pensions and workman’s compensation claims.

While individual managers may provide direct training when an employee is on the job, it’s the HR department that is responsible for educating new hires about company policies and procedures. The human resources department provides tours of the company and makes appropriate introductions, provides new hires with necessary tools and uniforms and educates new hires about benefits. Additionally, an important element of human resource activities is to develop employee training manuals and coordinate training for areas such as sales techniques and product knowledge.

The elements of the human resource department play an integral role in every aspect of a business. The HR professionals serve as partners to the owner, the managers, front-line supervisors and employees. HR carries out specific requests for various departments while maintaining the overall objectives of the company as a whole. HR often is involved in strategic planning, especially when it comes to the company’s most important asset – its employees.