We all know that HR deals with the people who make up the workforce, yet there are many aspects of the organisation that are handled by the HR department. Simply put, a large company would not be able to operate without an effective HR team and let’s not forget that people are the most valuable asset of any business.

Here are some of the roles the HR department of a large company takes on.

• Hiring & Firing – Arguably the most important role, the HR team advertise positions, screen applicants and present their findings to the CEO, making recommendations based on their experience. Things like sending out written warnings, issuing verbal warnings and any disciplinary action that might be required, are all under the domain of the HR department. Small businesses avoid the high cost of setting up an HR department and simply outsource to a HR provider who can handle all personnel requirements.

• Health & Safety – This also falls to the HR team, who organise staff training, carry out risk assessment and ensure compliance with the stringent health & safety measures in place. The current trend is to outsource to a provider of UK health and safety consultants, which ensures compliancy. For those located outside the UK, a Google search should help you find a reputable consultant nearby.

• Maintaining Good Employee-Employer Relations – This is an essential part of the HR team’s work and they have many initiatives to develop a good working relationship with all employees. The department acts as a mediator and always reports to the management whenever there are minor issues and for a large company, it is vital that all employees work as a team. Minor conflicts need to be settled amicably and the HR team would be flexible and diplomatic in their approach, always aware of the possibility of conflict.

• Compensation & Benefits – Every employer is liable to provide certain benefits to their employees and this can be a big strain on your resources if you don’t have an HR department. Outsourcing to a third-party that can handle the different types of HR service, as well as provide free health and safety advice line, is the obvious solution if you want to be compliant. National Insurance obligations are another aspect of HR and late payment can result in fines, which no business wants.

• Professional Development – As a company grows and they hire more people, there needs to be opportunities for professional development in the form of staff training and obtaining certification, something most employees are striving for. To create professional development training opportunities and encourage employees to learn new skills takes a lot of planning, the HR manager would likely provide the CEO with a quarterly report of current professional development programs that are running.

Large multi-national corporations must have HR departments, which is a big expense, while smaller businesses rely on 3rd party services that are tailored to their needs. All of the above can be provided by an established company and as your business grows, your employees, your most important asset, will be managed by professionals. Take a look at successful corporations and you will see a switched-on HR department that oils the machine and keeps people happy.