Activities in the HR Department, Essay Example

The human resource department performs an essential managerial function which is involved in acquiring, developing and maintaining a certified team of employees and managers in an organization. It aims at utilizing human resource in an organization to the optimum. To achieve this, the human resource department has traditionally been engaging in several activities which include recruitment, selection, compensation, training & development and promotion & retirement of employees.

Recruitment involves all ways or activities used to attract candidates for vacancies that exist in the organization. This is the process where awareness of a vacancy indicating the skills and ability required for a certain job. Recruitment can either be internal or external. Internal recruitment is done within an organization usually inform of promotion and transfers. External recruitment on the other hand, is implemented where existing employees may not be qualified for a certain post or when an organization wants new talent to give a new image. The commonly used ways of external recruitment include advertisement, presentation in educational institutions, employment agencies, professional bodies, personnel consultant and posters.

Selection comes right after recruitment and it involves screening and evaluation of candidates from the pool generated in order to select the best who can fit in the job. The stages involved in the selection process include preliminary interviews, filling of application forms, employment tests, employment interview, physical/medical examination, referees check and signing of appointment letter.

Compensation is the financial remuneration that an organization gives to its employees in exchange to their effort in organization. It can be direct or indirect. Example of direct compensation include basic salary, overtime pay, commissions and bonus while indirect compensation refers to general employee benefit like vacation, insurance scheme, sick leave, executive commissions and allowances.

Training is the process of improving knowledge and skills possessed by an employee in a working environment. Development on the other hand, is aimed at the growth of an individual in all aspect and not merely in the job he is performing. The need for training has been caused by factors like advance in technology, competition, need to develop human capital, to prepare employees for promotion and transfer, to overcome resistance to change and preparation for crisis. Training can be internal or external. Internal training is done where one trains as they continue working while in external training programs are prepared and organized outside the organization.

Termination or retirement of the employee is the last stage in his/her employment. This could be voluntary or compulsory. Voluntary termination is when an individual leaves an organization for various reasons whereas a compulsory termination is forced by the authority to leave organization either due to misconduct or otherwise. Some of the factors which lead to termination include dismissal, end of contract, retirement, natural causes and voluntary termination (when one chooses to leave the organization for greener pastures).