HR Responsibilities: Key Roles Driving Company Success

Most employees view HR as the department that helps with hiring and possibly conflict resolution. Yet this view is too limited and really only scratches the surface of all that today’s modern teams do each and every day. 

Instead, HR professionals manage a wide range of responsibilities related to employees and the workplace. This includes everything from defining the company’s internal policies to compliance efforts to even helping developing the next generation of future leaders. 

While many employees may only interact with HR during open enrollment periods, annual reviews, or when they leave the company, HR actually touches virtually every part of their work lifecycle, which includes everything from their first interview to their last day of work.

Let’s take a closer look at ten critical HR roles and responsibilities.

10 of the Most Critical HR Responsibilities

1. Recruiting and hiring

This is the first interaction many employees will have with their company’s HR department. It’s an extremely important first step where HR practitioners have to use applicant tracking systems (ATS) and other specialized recruiting systems to become effective in attracting, identifying, and hiring top talent – before the competition. 

2. Onboarding

1. This is another important area, and can often be one that is overlooked and may start the employee experience off on the wrong foot. HR managers can – and should – implement much more effective onboarding processes to give new hires everything they need to succeed, right from the start. 

3. Payroll

1. This area may be more known and less surprising but HR generally plays an important role in managing and processing payroll. This includes finding right payroll solutions or managing integrations to popular payroll providers. In smaller companies, HR may also perform important tasks such as collecting employees time and attendance data, calculating wages and deductions, and maintaining highly accurate records for possible compliance audits in the future. 

4. Performance Management

1. HR team members are also responsible for the company’s entire performance management process. This includes implementing the right performance solution, establishing and communicating clear standards for annual evaluations, encouraging more frequent check-ins, and even managing the compensation structures that go along with merit increases and bonuses. 

5. Improving Employee Engagement

1. Employee engagement is more than just a nice-to-have element in the workplace. It’s been proven to contribute to higher levels of productivity, satisfaction, and retention, all of which is vital to the company’s success. HR is responsible for various programs and initiatives – including employee recognition and rewards – to keep engagement as high as possible at all times. 

6. Conflict Resolution

HR must also serve as a mediator (at times) to settle any possible disputes between managers and their direct reports or employee coworkers. This can include areas such as discrimination, unfair treatment, poor working environment, and other examples. HR may also be required to enforce the company’s disciplinary policies such as performance improvement plans and even termination.

7. Training and Development

1. When it comes to supporting employee development and ongoing performance, HR plays an important role in designing and implementing effective training and development programs. They start by identifying employees’ training needs and requests by collecting these insights from feedback, gap analysis, and performance evaluations and build out the right courses, programs, and strategies that support ideal training initiatives. 

8. Workplace Surveys and Polls

1. So many companies overlook the importance and value of workplace surveys and polls. Yet these can be an extremely effective way to collect real-time feedback and insights that can help leadership avoid potential issues and best align everyone’s efforts for maximum success. 

9. Managing the Company’s Policies

1. HR team members are also in charge of defining, designing, and maintaining the company’s specific policies. This can include topics and policies related to the code of conduct, remote work, PTO and leave, performance management, and even data security. 

10. Succession Planning

1. Finally, HR plays an important role in succession planning, or the idea of finding the next generation of high performers to transition into key roles. This can include responsibilities such as identifying the right succession candidates, creating the right development plans to prepare them for the role, and even fostering an environment where all employees are encouraged to think about taking the next step in their careers. 

HR: Playing a Critical Role in Workplace Success

When you really think about it, HR does so much more than just recruiting or conflict resolution (or the other one or two things most people believe HR does). Modern HR teams play a much needed role in defining the right foundational elements of a positive and productive work environment and then even driving it to help the company succeed.

By investing in the right tools and technologies, today’s HR teams can improve employee satisfaction and productivity, deliver internal efficiencies, enhance communication, and help ensure compliance with a wide range of laws and regulations. When it’s at its best, HR isn’t just a back-office, administrative function, it’s a strategic role capable of helping the business achieve it’s most important goals.

If you are interested in more HR insights, check out the 100 best HR blogs.

FAQs

1. What is HR’s primary responsibility?

HR’s primary role is to manage and optimize the organization’s most valuable asset – its people. This includes attracting, developing, and retaining highly talented employees while making sure the organization maintains a healthy, productive, and compliant workplace that aligns with business objectives. 

2. What are some of HR’s top responsibilities?

HR’s most important responsibilities include recruiting and onboarding employees, managing payroll and benefits programs, ensuring compliance with constantly evolving regulations, and maintaining a positive workplace culture. By partnering with the right HR technology provider, such as HR Cloud, today’s HR professionals can also improve performance management, employee engagement, and other critical areas – helping the company become even more competitive. 

3. Why don’t people know all the things HR does? 

The simple answer is that HR tends to operate behind the scenes to preserve confidentiality and maintain professional boundaries. This means that most employees only see a fraction of HR’s work during direct, one-on-one interactions during hiring, benefits enrollment, or conflict resolution. 

4. What is one of the most overlooked HR responsibilities?

One of the most overlooked HR responsibilities is fostering employee engagement and recognition, which directly impact retention and productivity. To successfully drive employee engagement, HR teams should gather feedback, create open communication channels, and even implement effective recognition and rewards programs to make sure employees feel supported, valued, and part of the company’s overall success. 

Author:

This article is written by Jason Rasmuson in close association with HR Cloud. HR Cloud is a leading provider of proven HR solutions, including recruiting, onboarding, employee communications & engagement, and rewards & recognition. Our user-friendly software increases employee productivity, delivers time and cost savings, and minimizes compliance risk.