New to HR? Seeking Advice on Building an HR Department for a Retail Store Chain

I am a new professional in HR and I have been given the opportunity to develop an HR department for a retail store with 4 outlets. Can anyone help me with your experience?

Dear Sherinpereira,

There are some points to focus on before you go to design an HR System.

1. What is the org. structure? You might have learned that in your MBA. Whether it's geographically distributed, what is the way authority is delegated?

2. Also, the functioning of retail stores has to be kept in mind.

3. What are the future expansion plans, etc.?

4. What kind of skills are required, etc.?

I am sure that you have to first actually understand the business model you are working for. If you get anything readymade, I don't know how much it will be of use.

Thanks,
Padam

Hi,

Below are the things you need to look into:

1. Look into your organization structure.
2. Prepare an Employee Personal File and maintain MIS where you have to include details such as their offer letter, appointment letter, confirmation, promotion, joining details, address proof, increment letter, etc., in their personal record. In the MIS, include the employee code, name, address, father's name, date of birth, date of joining, date of retirement or retrenchment, and every detail of your employees.
3. Now, you have to build up an idea. It's time to create job descriptions for all your employees.
4. Maintain time records and attendance records of your employees.
5. Assign an employee code to everyone.
6. If you do not have any policies and plans, then work on establishing policies such as leave policy, tour and travel policy, incentive plans, disciplinary policies, etc.

Start with these tasks as there is a lot to do to establish an HR department. I will provide further information later.