Earning a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Southern Indiana is all about building the skills you will need to be an effective leader. Working in the human resources (HR) field will test your ability to manage conflict, ensure ethical hiring practices and balance the needs of your organization’s employees. Facing these tests daily is no small feat, but getting the best possible training today can help set you up for success in the future.
What Is the Role of HR?
Businesses have monetary capital and human capital. Human capital is the collective value of an organization’s employees, including employee skills, time and contributions. To ensure that a company is running smoothly, human resources departments exist to manage this human capital; HR responsibilities include governing employee benefits, compensation and complaints.
HR professionals develop a number of skills for these roles. First, they are responsible for recruitment and hiring. It is up to them to write clear job descriptions, find a pool of appropriate candidates and facilitate the hiring process. In addition to finding the right employees, the HR department is responsible for ensuring fair hiring practices, while complying with any hiring regulations or policies.
After a hire, HR personnel often complete performance evaluations, coordinate employee benefits, manage compensation, and keep track of tax withholdings and time worked. They must be well-versed in employee incentives and benefits such as bonuses, health insurance and any accrued paid time off.
Should a problem arise in the workplace — such as harassment, interpersonal conflicts or discrimination — the HR department serves as the mediator. Employees must feel welcome to report any unethical behaviors to the HR department, which requires HR professionals to establish a warm, unbiased atmosphere. In all, HR personnel keep the human capital of a company happy and ensure fair treatment for all.
How Are HR Professionals Involved in Hiring Practices?
Hiring is often an expensive process for a company, so it is crucial that HR personnel handle the task efficiently and ethically. From scouring applications and conducting interviews to hiring and training a new employee, companies spend many hours and thousands of dollars on each new hire. To make the process worth the investment for a company, it is up to HR professionals to carry out the hiring process as smoothly and ethically as possible.
During the hiring process, HR professionals have an extensive to-do list to complete. When considering a candidate, HR staff must determine if the applicant will work well with existing employees and clients, if he or she has the necessary skills or potential to learn new skills required for the job, and if the applicant’s references are valid and speak highly of him or her.
In addition to evaluating candidates for jobs, HR personnel must be aware of and adhere to legal and ethical hiring practices. There are several employment equality policies in place today that govern HR practices. For instance, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) bans any sort of age-related questions from the interview process. HR professionals must be careful not to show favoritism toward men over women, while also adhering to affirmative action requirements when necessary. Although there are many legal and ethical considerations for HR professionals to manage, the HR management course at the University of Southern Indiana will prepare you to satisfy such requirements.
How Can I Learn About HR management?
HR management is a complex field full of variety and responsibility. While HR managers enjoy an ever-changing professional landscape that leaves no room for boredom, the same environment challenges them to overcome business and interpersonal dilemmas on a daily basis. Luckily, the HR management course in the online MBA program at the University of Southern Indiana will prepare you to tackle whatever situation you must face as an HR manager.
The engaging HR management course emphasizes understanding the context of employment for the sake of developing managerial skills. Not only can you learn about leadership through the online MBA program, you can also strengthen your career development, explore diversity, master employment law, and learn the arts of problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Human resource professionals work in a dynamic environment and must be ready for any obstacle. The online MBA program at the University of Southern Indiana teaches you about the fascinating culture of companies and establishes powerful human resource skills that will guide you toward success.
Learn about the USI online MBA program.
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