Dear Colleague,
A HR executive should be equipped with good legal knowledge so that they can effectively handle matters involving a legal approach. Matters involving disciplinary proceedings, labor disputes, company-leased tenancies, settlement of awards, award of contracts to various services like canteen, transportation, housekeeping services, vetting of terms and conditions of appointment of employees, preparation of various schemes for implementation in the company, handling real estate properties of the company, and filing various returns before the statutory authorities are some of the more important subjects that require a good knowledge of the law. Many times, an HR executive is called upon to appear before a governmental or statutory authority or judicial forum to make pronouncements for and on behalf of the company they represent. Though we may receive guidance from advocates in these matters, no one can prepare us for every unforeseen contingency. In all these circumstances, having some knowledge of the law will enable us to weigh every word or pronouncement we may make. We do not need to be experts in law, but we need to be knowledgeable in law so that we can avoid major pitfalls.
Especially in labor-intensive companies where labor leaders are very experienced and quite a number of them, especially the office bearers, would be well-informed and qualified in law as well, we need to be equally smart and qualified in law to handle their demands and play their ball from our side. Otherwise, not only will they win the game, but they will also laugh under their sleeves.
I am expressing every word based on my personal experience having long worked successfully as a senior-level manager in charge of HR/legal/industrial relations in a company with multiple unions.
R. Sundararajan
Dear Seniors, I am an Asst. Manager HR with 4 years of experience in HR. I would like to know whether pursuing Law will help me in my career and to what extent. I would be happy if you could share some live experiences.
Regards,
Stanley Wilson
Asst. Manager - HR