Whether you own a small business or a larger corporation, taking care of your employees should always be a top priority. Creating a safe working environment where each team member feels valued and respected is key and will play a role in determining your reputation as an employer.
This is why the HR department is vital for every business, whether it’s one person managing these tasks or a team of people. Below are some reasons why you need to keep on top of your HR tasks.
Managing Payroll, Holidays, and Sick Pay
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HR is responsible for ensuring that each employee is paid on time and the correct amount. Whether a member of staff is being paid an hourly wage or salary, they need to be able to rely on their employer to pay them on time so that they can pay their bills and other expenses each month. HR will also keep track of each staff member’s holiday allowance and any sick days or absences, which is important for employee compliance.
Categorizing Employees
Another job that HR is responsible for is making sure that employees are categorized correctly. For example, which pays grade they are in for their salaries, or whether or not they are exempt or non-exempt from certain benefits or tax allowances that will need to be calculated with their payroll, as well as determining what tasks they are allowed to do in the workplace based on their circumstances. It can be difficult to understand exempt vs non exempt, which is why HR must keep up to date with employment laws and other regulations around this.
Employee Training
Your HR team will also keep track of employee training and come up with the materials used in these programs. It is important to make sure your teams understand what is expected of them at work and how to handle any equipment or software that is essential to your business correctly. Harassment and discrimination training is also vital in the working environment to keep employees safe, as is any health and safety training that is relevant to your employees’ jobs.
Dealing with Disputes
If there is an issue between staff members or management, they need to be handled professionally by HR. Having an HR representative present at these meetings allows them to keep a record of what was said at that meeting, as well as acting as a mediator between the parties. They are there to protect both the employee and the employer and to find a resolution to the issue so everyone can move forward and try to avoid legal proceedings.
Managing Employee Perks
Employee perks are a great way to keep your teams happy and make you attractive as an employer. They can help reduce staff turnover and encourage loyalty from your employees. Things like healthcare benefits, family days out, bonuses, or gift vouchers can be used to show your appreciation for your staff, and HR are the one who organize these perks and can come up with new ideas to boost morale in the company with these incentives.
The HR department does a lot of work, and they are an integral part of any business; this is why you should strive to help your HR teams to get the best results.
