Dear Soni
It is very difficult to state the differences succinctly since the differences are too many for too many reasons and thus I could not avoid a little prolonged explanation.
There is perceptible difference between HR functions in an Educational Institution and an industry as commonly understood as a shop or a commercial establishment like a corporate retail stores or a factory.The differences emanate chiefly from the following factors.
1)The core and major work force in an Educational Institution is constituted by teachers or faculty who are well educated and enlightened and are called learned class of employees.They are sober, modest and well regulated in their behavior unlike the employees in a shop or retail stores or factory who are moderately or inadequately educated and are called blue collared employees.. Consequently the employees in industry are little louder in their behaviour. Therefore the HR function in an Educational Institution is softer than that in industry.The HR in industry thus needs diffident traits and strategy to deal with the employees
2)Teachers who constitute the core work force of an Educational Institution do not fall within the purview of many labour laws like the Industrial Disputes Act, the Minimum Wages Act, the Contract Labour Act, the Factories Act, the Standing orders Act, the Payment of Wages Act or even the Shops and Establishments Acts of the states which are applicable to industrial concerns. These Acts protect the rights of the workmen/employees in the industry prescribing various compliances and procedures for the employers while taking any action affecting the rights of the employees in case of dispute or difference between them.Only a minority in an Educational Institution working as clerks and peons in administration fall within the ambit of these laws, leaving little or no chance for disputes and friction.Thus HR in industrial undertakings shall have thorough knowledge of statutory compliances and procedures unlike HR in an Educational Institution.
3) For reasons mentioned in point no.(2) above, there will be intense union activity in industry unlike in an Educational Institution, consequently creating pressure on the management with demands and gearing up to fight for them in case of employer's refusal, in the various forums set up under the respective labour laws like conciliation and adjudication before Industrial Tribunals. Thus the HR in industry will have exposure to the process of industrial relations like collective bargaining, conciliation proceedings and settlements and adjudication.The HR in an educational Institution, may be missing this exposure.
4)For all the above reasons and for the reason that the fate of an industrial undertaking, being a business unit,(unlike an educational institution), depends up on it's productivity which again depends up on the performance of the employees and market forces , the HR in industry needs to lay emphasis on employee welfare, motivation and performance appraisal to stay in the market and resultantly the HR concepts and practices in an industry are different from those of an educational institution.
it can go on and on, but these re the basic differences which I visualize.
B.Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advsior
Mumbai