Understanding the Roles: How Do HR and Personnel & Administration Departments Differ?

Hi, I am Jitendra Joshi,

My question is: What is the difference between HR Department and Personnel and Administration Department or what is the role of HR Department, Personnel, and Administration Department?

Your confusion is absolutely correct, but the thing is, there is no difference between the HR and Personnel Department; they are the same. Some companies call it the HR Department, while others refer to it as the Personnel Department. Both departments perform the same functions.

The Admin Department's work will differ; this department handles all administrative tasks like housekeeping, canteen management, security, company maintenance, etc. One important thing to note is that in the manufacturing sector, there is no difference between all three; they should be the same. In the IT field, admin and HR will be different.

Thanks and Regards,
Umesh Shetty

Dear Joshi & Priya,

Understanding HR and Administration Roles

In the HR Department, we have many domains like Recruitment, Training & Development, Onboarding & Induction, Administration, Payroll, Generalist, etc. Administration is also a part of the HR team. Let's consider an instance: by the end of the month, the HR department has to run the payroll process, for which we need to obtain the attendance from the Admin department. Therefore, an admin executive has to oversee the monthly attendance and prepare a sheet for the same.

Apart from this, the primary responsibility of the admin department is to manage maintenance tasks, including overseeing the canteen supplies, handling salaries for non-working staff such as security personnel, drivers, canteen-related employees, etc.

Regards,
Srinivas Reddy.J Sr. HR Executive

Dear joshijitendra, there were a lot of discussions on the same topic. Do check with the given links. There is also a good attachment provided by our fellow member, Mr. Ibrahim, in one of the links.

- [Difference Between Personnel and HR](https://www.citehr.com/80897-difference-between-personnel-hr.html)
- [Difference Between HR and General Administration](https://www.citehr.com/36242-difference-between-hr-general-administration.html)
- [What Is the Difference Between Admin and HR](https://www.citehr.com/93819-what-difference-between-admin-hr.html)

The Evolution of Human Resources

Human resources, in the present stage, have undergone many stages of evolution. The predecessor to the present form of HR was the personnel department, where manpower was seen as a commodity. The personnel department's job was to hire and fire people, and they were involved in disciplinary issues and other statutory requirements necessary for an organization to function.

The personnel department gave way to the HR department, where manpower was seen as more than just a component of production; it was recognized as an important asset to the organization.

Regards

I agree with Mr. Karthik's version, which correctly distinguishes between what is correct and what is true.

Please let me know if you need any further assistance or clarification.

Personnel Department Overview

Determining company policies and procedures as they relate to personnel is another important aspect of the personnel management process. HR functions often include drafting vacation, sick leave, and bereavement policies that apply to all employees. The personnel management team is also often responsible for managing any healthcare program provided to the employees.

Drafting a Company Handbook

One aspect of company organization that needs the input of effective personnel management is the drafting of a company handbook. Establishing operation policies and procedures, requirements for employment, commendation and disciplinary procedures, and even something as simple as a dress code must be compared with state and federal guidelines before the handbook is ready for release to the company at large. Personnel managers and the HR staff are ideal for drafting and reviewing the company handbook.

Emotional Welfare of Employees

Sometimes overlooked in the course of personnel management is the emotional welfare of the employees. Increasingly, more personnel managers understand that a well-adjusted employee is an asset to the company. To this end, many people in charge of personnel management try to provide opportunities for employees who are in need of counseling to receive support from the company.

This support often involves scheduling time during working hours for the counseling sessions and perhaps picking up the cost if insurance does not cover counseling. As with continuing educational programs, counseling is seen as another way that the company invests in the future relationship between the employee and the employer. A good HR manager understands this and will strive to make sure this sort of support is available.

Responsibilities of the HR Department

Job Design:
The process of defining the way work will be performed and the tasks that a given job requires.

Recruitment:
The process through which the organization seeks applicants for potential employment.

Selection:
The process by which the organization attempts to identify applicants with the necessary knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics that will help the organization achieve its goals.

Training:
A planned effort to enable employees to learn job-related knowledge, skills, and behavior.

Development:
The acquisition of knowledge, skills, and behaviors that improve an employee's ability to meet changes in job requirements and in customer demands.

Performance Management:
The process of ensuring that employees' activities and outputs match the organization's goals.

Other Benefits

- Planning and Administering Pay and Benefits
- Maintaining Positive Employee Relations
- Establishing and Administering Personnel Policies
- Ensuring Compliance with Labor Laws

Dear Priya & Joshi,

Understanding Personnel Management and HR

Personnel Management is the process of managing personnel and its functions. It operates at a micro level. HR, on the other hand, is the process of developing and molding the knowledge, skills, techniques, attitude, and aptitude of the personnel, functioning at a macro level.

Role of Administration

Administration involves the management of housekeeping, canteen security, company maintenance, general activities, etc.

Best regards,
Shambhulinga G S HR

Well, here at my company, the HR and Admin departments are two units fused into one department. The HR Unit handles all the recruitment, payroll, and all other tasks related to staff growth and continuity. The admin unit merely deals with logistics and protocols.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.