You might start working for a company, and you don’t know much about the modern business world. Maybe you worked from home for years, or you worked in a more unconventional field. Now, you must function in an office setting with your coworkers.
You must learn what different departments do, including your company’s HR department. We’ll talk about what HR departments do in the following article.
They Look Up People Who Apply for Positions with that Company
Using a free person lookup search for your HR department helps the company figure out whether they should hire a particular candidate. That individual might interview for a job, and they seem qualified.
They may have the requisite skills and temperament. The hiring manager might like them.
This person might not be what they appear, though. Your HR department can use a free person lookup search to determine that.
These searches reveal a person’s marital status. They show whether they have kids and owe any child support payments. They reveal whether a person has a criminal record, if they own any property, and if that property has any liens against it.
They can show the HR department whether this person graduated from the college they mentioned. They can look up their job history this way. The department can find out about this person’s social media presence. If they said anything controversial on social media, the department can find that out and show the hiring manager that information.
The HR department can act as gate guards when someone interviews for a job. If they find out anything that disqualifies a candidate, the company should appreciate that service. It means a person who might embarrass the business won’t get through the hiring process.
They Act as Intermediaries Between Employees
Sometimes, employees disagree. Companies often self-police their workers. If someone steals something, they might call the cops. If two workers argue, though, HR might step in and play peacemaker.
They will probably interview both workers and ask them what happened. They will interview any eyewitnesses as well. They will try finding out the truth, and then they’ll determine what disciplinary action, if any, the company must take.
Ultimately, HR will probably tell the company’s president, CEO, or whoever else who makes these decisions what happened. That individual will decide whether they must fire anyone, suspend them, or do anything else to remedy the situation.
They Step in if Harassment Allegations Arise
HR might step in if one worker says that another employee sexually harassed them, bullied them, or did anything along those lines. Maybe a worker comes in and says a coworker made a crass joke in their presence. Perhaps they said something about that worker’s appearance. Maybe they suggested something crude or got overly familiar when asking about their dating life or personal life.
A worker might also come forward and say a coworker belittled them because of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion, or for some other reason. No worker should endure that, and HR can recommend disciplinary action if necessary. They might ask about eyewitnesses and interview the other person to get their side.
HR likely won’t fire anyone themselves, but again, they might pass the information on to someone who makes those decisions. HR gathers information and tries defusing the situation.
They Might Handle Payroll and Vacation Time
Sometimes, HR handles payroll. With some companies, you’ll have a separate payroll department that does it.
Someone might approach HR if they didn’t get their paycheck on time. Maybe that person wants direct deposit from now on, so they will give the HR department their bank account routing number and bank account number. They might also ask HR when they will get the raise that the company promised them. HR can look into that and get back to them.
HR might handle vacation and scheduling issues. They might look into how many vacation days a person has and when they can use them. They may look into paid vacation days and whether they carry over. Many times, when someone has these questions, they will visit the HR department and get their answers.
They Find or Hire Suitable Candidates
Sometimes, HR helps find suitable job candidates. They might post job openings on LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed, and other popular job sites. They can set up interviews between the candidates and the hiring manager.
They may hire these individuals as well in some cases. In companies where HR wears many hats, someone in that department might have hiring responsibilities. They’ll conduct interviews, hire the person, or make a recommendation that the higher-ups will respect.
Furthermore, as technology continues to shape the landscape of recruitment, HR professionals are exploring innovative tools such as AI-driven video interview assessments. These assessments not only streamline the candidate evaluation process but also introduce a data-driven approach to hiring decisions.
HR may leverage these advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency and objectivity of candidate assessments. In organizations where HR wears multiple hats, the incorporation of AI video interview assessments underscores a commitment to staying at the forefront of modern hiring practices.
They Handle Employee Training
Sometimes the HR department does onboarding. That includes training the new workers when they come into the office for the first time. HR might give them swipe cards so they’ll get into and out of the building with no issues. They can give them any paperwork the new worker must fill out. Sometimes, this onboarding process takes several hours.
They Provide New Employee Support
Sometimes, they will shadow a new employee for several days or a few weeks to make sure they fit in and don’t have any questions. They can assist this person as they take on their new tasks and address any concerns that might arise during this process.
A new worker might approach HR if they feel uncertain about anything. HR can provide them support or give them pep talks if they need it.
HR has various functions with different companies, but often, they do what their name suggests. They’re human resources, a fallback when someone needs help with something. You should feel comfortable approaching HR if you work for a business. They can assist you if you have a problem with the company, the work, another employee, or anything else.
HR works like a company’s nerve center in the modern business world. It’s an information repository. The rank-and-file workers can use it, and so can the higher-ups when they need assistance.