Human Resource Management

Human Resource Management is defined by businessdictionary.com as the process of hiring and developing employees so that they become more valuable to the organization. Human Resource Management includes conducting job analyses, planning personnel needs, recruiting the right people for the job, orienting and training managing wages and salaries, providing benefits and incentives, evaluating performance, resolving disputes and communicating with all employees at all levels. I agree that Human Resource Management is extremely important for an organization’s long term sustainability, growth and success as outlined in the assignment. I have had the opportunity to work in two different sectors in the past five years a new construction company and a retail sales establishment that is over fifty five (55 years old) I have recognised and acknowledged the major contrast as it relates to the importance of Human Resource for the proper function in an organization in order to attain long term sustainability, growth and by extension success of the business in its entirety. I will share my experiences in the various aspects of Human Resource Management namely; recruiting, on boarding/ orientation, company goals, training, compensation (wages, health benefit, and bonus), evaluating performance and communicating.

        Firstly in the construction company it was a start-up company with the establishment being separated into two categories the office staff (4 workers office manager, the receptionist, the site manager and the CEO and founder of the company) and the site workers( 50 emplyees). While in the retail sales industry there is approximately four thousand workers in Jamaica and it contained various departments (ranging from Human Resource (HR),Finance,Credit,Information Technology,Sales etc) to deal with different issues. The HR department consist of a HR director, two HR Managers, one Senior HR officer, two HR Officers and two HR assistant they carry out all the functions as defined by the definition of Human Resource Management.

Recruiting in the construction company the CEO would get references from friends or other employees to fill post nothing structured an interview would have been conducted without structure and the job description of the individual would not have been a deciding factor it had mainly to do with if he thought one could perform a particular duty at that specific time he thought the establishment had lack. While in the retail sales company HR specialist advertise the position both internally and externally with all the various medium available to do so (print and electronic) as well as a detailed description of one’s qualification , experience and job description is provided this I believe is the best way to recruit staff.

Orientation or on boarding as it referred to in the retail sales establishment is a one week exercise where the company’s goals, mission and core values are discussed in detail, thus with both employer and employee working towards the same goal the success of the company is inevitable. A guide book is provided to all employees encompassing detailed information in regards to compensation, rules and sanctions of the organization. While in the construction company one will commence work not knowing the company’s goals or objectives as there was no structure. If an HR department was established each employee would have known their job description and functions to be carried.

Respects to the company goal in the retail industry HR specialist conduct what is called a company strategic plan which states all of what the company is expected to accomplish during a particular period. Every member of staff is given the opportunity to make comments and a chance to voice their opinion on what is discussed. Feedback is then taken and grouped with valid inputs incorporated. While in the construction industry this was never done the main interest was to complete projects feedback was never asked nor accepted. If the construction company had an HR department workers would be able to give their input and feel a part of the organization this would no doubt encourage workers to give their utmost best at all times as they would be aware of where the company is heading.

Training is a very essential part of any organization as information is constantly being changed and updated regularly. In the retail industry that I am currently employed there is an in-house university that was established to build its employees, with over 400 courses alluding to all departments. This function gives employee the option of being crossed trained hence an employee interchange within the different departments. The training and development department is a sub department of the HR department is responsible for all training activities. The company also offers scholarships for employees to attain university degrees (up to the Masters level) as a mean of encouraging its workforce to upgrade themselves. While in the construction industry this was never in their focus as priority to the CEO was completing his projects. If training however was encouraged persons on site could have upgraded themselves and become the project managers for future projects or any other profession relating to building.