Is HR Simple

To say that HR is not a vital part of an organization is an insult.  Bare minimum it’s an oversimplification of what goes on in HR departments. Whether people know it or not HR is the backbone of every organization.  Without HR, organizations cannot run like well-oiled machines.  The responsibilities that HR professionals have support every aspect of an organization.     

HR functions are complex for organizations that have large staffs.  Smaller organizations may not need a lot of HR employees.  The size of an organization and its goals dictate the number and complexity of HR functions.   

Working with organizations of various sizes forces me to talk about HR functions in different ways.  How I talk about HR functions depends on the needs of the organization.  Other times it depends on the knowledge of the person I’m talking to.  Lastly, it depends on the size of the organization.  

Outside of payroll and benefits (health and life insurance) most people don’t know what HR does.  In a nutshell, HR is involved in every aspect of an organization.  Everything from strategic workforce planning to managing benefits programs to hiring an intern, HR has its hand in everything.   

Every organization doesn’t require every HR function.  However, every organization does require at least one HR function.  If your organization consists of one person you still require an HR function.  In my next post I’ll explain some HR functions and how a one-person organization still requires an HR function.