What Does an HR Head Actually Do? Seeking a Simple Breakdown for Beginners

Can anyone give me a list of roles and responsibilities of an HR Head for a person who does not have experience in this field?

Thank you.

Roles and Responsibilities of an HR Head

The ultimate responsibility for practices and decision-making skills lies with the HR Head. They manage the entire Human Resources team concerning initiatives related to any matter that influences the entire organization.

The HR Head is an end-to-end solution provider for recruitments, labor issues, employee welfare, benefits, workplace measures, reviews, etc.

If the person is new to this field, I suggest they go through a few books. I understand "Rome was not built in a day," but if you embellish this phrase, I'd say, "It was built after long days." It is built, isn't it?

Similarly, one must have faith in terms of learning and implementing. They may get information on the following:

- Recruitments to F&F Process: This involves working with the in-house team to select candidates either by referrals, outside agencies, job boards, etc. It includes post-joining formalities, handling personnel files, employee retention, resolving disciplinary matters and grievances, obtaining proper feedback from employees, managing rewards and recognition programs, handling employee dismissals, and conducting exit formalities, among many other tasks.

- Compliance with Laws: HR's improvement factor is based on legal issues undertaken. They must be updated with all necessary labor and legal laws. Familiarizing with the Acts pertaining to employee issues is crucial. Procedures for leaves, layoffs, and compliance are of utmost importance.

- Conditions of Employment: Employees are diversified based on the nature of their work. Therefore, issues such as working hours and payroll office records are a few of the potential stipulations.

- Employee Welfare and Employer Benefit Facility: The HR Head needs to integrate welfare to benefit both parties without severing the Employer-Employee bond.

- Organization Development: This includes training candidates for Internal Job Postings (IJPs) and lateral movements, growth provisions, and counseling services, all of which fall under their purview.

Refer to books, websites, etc., for a more comprehensive understanding. HR is a vast field where one needs to delve deep to understand the intensity of its procedures.

Good Luck!

Sometimes, operational heads are appointed as HR heads due to the peculiarities of circumstances or organizational policies. Thus, they may not be fully aware of the intricacies of HR functions. However, with the assistance of a team of experts in the field, they should not encounter any issues in managing HR functions.

Traits/Skills:

a) The HR head should possess a high degree of common sense to anticipate events and consequences.

b) They should have the ability to listen to their team as they may not be HR experts themselves.

c) They need the capacity to analyze what they have heard and read to address underlying issues.

d) Effective communication skills are essential for clear and efficient communication.

e) Leadership skills are crucial for guiding the team.

Roles and Responsibilities:

1) They should facilitate the formulation of HR policies on various issues after consulting with senior management and their team.

2) Oversight of HR policy implementation is crucial, which involves monitoring with the team's support.

3) They are responsible for establishing service conditions and ensuring their implementation within the organization.

4) Streamlining the grievance redressal system and monitoring it with the team's assistance is part of their role.

5) Ensuring statutory compliance with the HR team's assistance is a key responsibility.

6) Monitoring disciplinary cases in collaboration with the HR team is necessary.

7) Monitoring the industrial relations situation within the organization and providing support to top management in collective bargaining, negotiations, and settlements are important tasks.

These are a few key responsibilities I envision for an HR head.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
Mumbai

Thank you for your reply. It explains why an HR Head himself might not be aware of his roles and responsibilities!

Moreover, nowadays, many new and small companies find it easy and convenient to appoint their relatives or friends as HR Head or HR Director. Additionally, many ex-army officers who are employed in industries, initially in Administration positions, are also asked to oversee HR functions as HR Head. It seems HR has been reduced to a function where no qualification, experience, or expertise is required, and an HR Head needs to determine his own roles and responsibilities.

Warm regards.