Feeling Overwhelmed About Starting as an HR Manager? Seeking Advice on Building an HR Department from Scratch

All Seniors,

I have been working as an HR Assistant for the past 3 years and have received an offer for the position of HR Manager from a domestic Call Center. I am feeling confused about how I will be able to handle the new responsibilities.

The company I am supposed to join has 50 employees, and notably, there is no existing HR Department in place. I seek guidance on the role of an HR Manager and how I should go about establishing the HR Department from scratch.

I often experience butterflies in my stomach and have trouble sleeping. At times, I contemplate rejecting the job offer, but then I consider embracing the challenge.

Seniors, I am eagerly awaiting your response as I believe that your insights and advice will be invaluable in this situation.

Regards,
Kanishka

HR plays an important role in all organizations. The following are the major areas that you need to focus on in your organization:

1. Recruitment - Selecting the right person for the right job.
2. Training - Providing on-the-job and off-the-job training for all employees.
3. Employee Welfare - Managing compensation benefits and other welfare initiatives.
4. Statutory - Handling PF, ESI, etc.
5. Payroll - Managing salary administration.

These are some of the major areas that fall under the HR department. Please clarify if you will also be responsible for handling the administrative part, as this would increase your responsibilities.

Working in HR is a cool job. Don't worry, and if you need further clarification, please let me know.

Regards,
V. Arunkumar

Thank you so much, Mr. Arun, for your quick and great response.

Among all the five areas that you define, I can do recruitment since I have experience in this field. I can also handle payroll very well. However, there is no PF and ESI administration included in my profile.

I am unsure about how I could manage compensation and benefits and Training & Development (T&D) due to my limited experience in T&D. I need guidance on how to assess training and development needs, provide training to employees, and establish the basis for creating a training calendar.

Thank you again,
Kanishka

Dear Kanishka

As a HR in a domestic centre, you have been recruited to implement things, you would more or less have to work like a HR Generalist taking care of the overall HR Activities

1) Firstly your major job will be recruitment – getting in right people

2) Your Second major task would be taking care of the employees like a mother.

Now understand some basic HR polices that are made by the management like salary dates, holiday list, timings, overtime, present recruitment procedures etc.

Speak with employees and be familiar with them, understand what problems they have. Most of them will come with all pitty matters like formal letters, leaves etc.

3) Try to implement things like Corporate Salary Account with Bank

4) If there is no Hr dept, check if you will have to manage the payroll? Or is it managed by the accounts dept?

5) You may have to complete some HR formalities like offer letters, appt letters, leave applications and other formats appraisal forms etc

6) Employee Database

7) Everyday understand and analysis the environment, the systems that you want to implement. Try to copy what you found streamlined in your previous job in HR and try to implement the same.

8) Meanwhile document things up so that end of two months you have enough data and you are able to understand things to make up with Employee handbook.

You can refer to many of the employee handbook uploaded in Cite Hr for understanding the Hr systems & policies and also look out for payroll related query like payslip, payroll sheet etc.

Listed here is some primary job description for HR Generalist:

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for all human resource activities to include employment, compensation, employee relations, benefits, and training and development.

• Interview job applicants; review application/resume; evaluate applicant skills and make recommendations regarding applicant's qualifications.

• Develop and maintain relationship with employment agencies, universities and other recruitment sources.

• Prepare and maintain company salary structure, job documentation, and job evaluation systems. Complete salary survey questionnaires.

• Prepare, process and distribute payroll.

• Design and conduct new employee orientations.

• Administer and explain benefits to employees.

• Employee Recreation & Staff Welfare like canteen etc

• Recommend, develop and schedule training and development courses.

• Provide advice, assistance and follow-up on company policies, procedures, and documentation.

• Coordinate the resolution of specific policy-related and procedural problems and inquiries.

• Recommend, develop and maintain human resource data bases, computer software systems, and manual filing systems.

• Develop and recommend operating policy and procedural improvements.

• Other duties as assigned.

Best Regards,

Tina

Hi Kanishka,

Well, it's really simple. All you need to do is provide 100% assistance to the RGT (Revenue Generating Team). Being a part of Human Resources, you need to support all the employees so that the company flourishes.

Precisely, I would say that the core areas are:
1. Recruitment
2. Training
3. Counseling
4. Retention Activities
5. Payroll
6. Statutory Measures (PF/ESI/Other Gov Norms)

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

Thank you.