Charles Spinelli: Key Responsibilities of Human Resources

Charles Spinelli on the Roles of a Human Resources Department

As an HR professional, you'll find yourself wearing many hats. You'll ensure that all employee policies and procedures are up-to-date and consistently enforced. But your role goes beyond simply policing the workplace. You'll also partner with employees in making the work environment as positive, productive, and fulfilling as possible. That may mean resolving interpersonal conflicts, facilitating communication, or offering training and development programs. Whether you're navigating sticky situations or implementing new policies, working in HR is an incredibly rewarding career that allows you to make a tangible impact on the company and the people within it.

Today, Charles Spinelli discusses the primary functions of human resources.

HR Planning
According to Charles Spinelli, the HR department oversees planning for the company's future and workforce. This responsibility impacts many other HR functions, such as recruiting talent, succession planning, and performance management. It's an HR professional's job to assess the company's goals and objectives and develop workforce strategies that help accomplish them. For example, the department may increase hiring to meet production goals or recruit an individual with a specific skill set to complete a project. Often, the HR department works with other departments to ensure it understands their needs when planning.

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Talent Recruitment
The HR department plays an important role in attracting and recruiting talent. It works with managers to develop recruitment goals and identify the types of applicants the company wants to hire or roles it needs to fill. HR professionals can also help create job postings, find potential candidates, and conduct the initial screening process. When seeking candidates, they may use professional networking platforms or attend in-person events like job fairs.

Compensation and Benefits
The HR department helps oversee and manage employee compensation and benefits. It typically works with managers to set salaries and negotiate with employees as needed. Once hired, the HR department adds new employees to the payroll system and ensures they get paid according to the schedule. The department also looks at salary standards within the industry to ensure the company remains competitive. Charles Spinelli suggests it may provide additional benefits if the company cannot offer a competitive salary.

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Health and Safety
Charles Spinelli points out that the HR department is responsible for developing and implementing health and safety measures in the workplace. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA), all employers must provide a safe working environment. An HR professional must be familiar with OSHA regulations and follow them by managing injury logs, overseeing safety training, reporting injuries, and handling any compensation necessary. The HR department's safety measures may be industry-mandated, such as harassment policies and emergency planning.

Training and Development
The HR department coordinates and manages employee training and development as part of the HR planning process. New employees must undergo training to learn company policies and the tools and resources needed to do their job. The HR department also works with managers and trainers to create programs that train the existing workforce on specific skills. These opportunities typically aim to improve their performance or achieve organizational goals. For example, a company implementing a new system must start a training program to teach employees how to use it.

Charles Spinelli shares his thoughts and insights on human resources in his blogs. Read them on this site.