Confused About HR vs. IR: Should I Learn Labor Laws for Better Career Prospects?

Recently, I went for an interview for the position of HR Generalist. I have experience in handling various HR functions such as Recruitment, Induction, PMS, Retention, Compensation & Benefits, etc. In Compensation & Benefits, I was in charge of preparing salary slips, which were then forwarded to the cashier for salary processing. During the interview, the organization's director bombarded me with questions about various labor and taxation laws, areas I had limited knowledge about. These aspects were typically managed by the Personnel Department in our company or overseen by the Corporate HR and Industrial Relations team.

I am questioning whether it is accurate to state that statutory compliances and labor laws are more aligned with Industrial Relations rather than Human Resources. Can someone confirm if my understanding is correct or provide further clarification? Should I invest time in learning these laws to enhance my prospects in the field?

Statutory compliances are very much a part of HR, but it depends on companies because at some places, HR professionals don't handle statutory compliances. Me neither!

As for the difference between HR and IR, you'll get the hang of it through these links. Have a look:

https://www.citehr.com/showthread.php?t=16267 (Search On Cite | Search On Google)
(Search links have been removed)

Hello. Kindly try to differentiate between C & B and payroll. These two are two different functions. It seems that you are working in payroll department as you mentioned “I was in-charge of preparing salary slips, which were forwarded to the cashier for salary checks”. Preparing pay-slips is not a role of C & B. If you have mentioned in resume that you have experience of working in C & B, then the other individual can ask you questions related to Income Tax, Different provisions in income tax; Exemptions in Income Tax; Gratuity Act; PF Act; Minimum Wage Act etc. All these are related to C & B.

Hence, the problem is not with you or the interviewer…the problem is with your resume…with your presentation and with your understanding to various concepts.

I hope this will give you some knowledge.

Thanks and Regards

Dear Mindforge,

HR - Human Resource

IR - Industrial Relations

The various activities involved under HR & IR depend upon the business in which the industry is operating. Any industry requires three "M" i.e., MAN, MACHINE, MATERIAL.

HR function is related to MAN. The activities of HR are to help the industry find the right person for the right job, retain them, and get the best from them so that employees also grow along with the industry.

Thus, the major HR job functions concentrate on recruitment, selection, deployment, appraisals, rewards & punishments, training, teamwork, leadership, motivational programs, employee satisfaction level, etc.

IR function is basically to act as a bridge that helps in building relations among:

1. Employer - Employee
2. Employee - Employee

Thus, the major job responsibilities involve eradicating any conflict-prone issues between them through discussions (with employees, workers committee, trade union, etc.) and taking disciplinary action under labor laws.