Solo HR in a Private Company vs. Team HR: Which Offers a Better Experience?

Which one is better:
1. Working as an individual HR in a Private Limited company (without any HR team) OR
2. In a team of HR?

I am working as an HR Generalist in an IT company, and there is only one HR here, which is me. I face lots of issues on a daily basis.

Kindly share your valuable opinions.

No such ground rule exists. It depends on your attitudes, mindset, etc. Facing a lot of issues also means you learn a lot. See it in a positive spirit.

A group of HR people can be a learning experience

But birds of the same feather can also have their own issues. One might well remember: "Our environment, the world we work in and live is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations."

Whether you work in a group of HR people or work alone as HR, it does not matter. It is always about your attitudes, your willingness to accept challenges, and how you relate to people and how you face issues.

You have compared individual HR against Team HR. But then, what is the constitution of the team? Is it headed by a Manager?

The Importance of Working Under an HR Manager

It is always better to work under a proper HR manager. I say this because an HR Manager will teach you hundreds of practical aspects of HR that you will not find in any book or website. As a person steps into professional life, it is the Manager that grooms juniors and develops their personality. Now, you may say that not all managers do this or are capable of doing this, but then that could be an individual exception.

The Path to Independence in HR

In life, if you want to become independent, you have to be dependent for some time. In short, it is always better to work under an experienced HR manager for at least two years. Then, you can join a company where there is no HR function. But no problem, you can still cope. Take it in a positive manner. If you can work in a company where there is no HR function, you will learn to work independently. After gaining substantial experience, you can expect calls from reputed companies, and your value will also increase because you have experience working independently.

Dear Richa, there is no such rule as per law; it depends on the company's strength. If you are working in a team, it will be even better. It seems like you are in the initial stage of your career, so you need to acquire more knowledge and learning to avoid incorrect practices. I suggest that you do not invest too much time in an organization where only a single HR person is working, especially at the beginning of your learning journey. However, I am not implying that you should leave this organization, but do not dedicate excessive time to it.

By leveraging the experience gained from this organization, you will have more opportunities to enter a new organization, as most organizations are hesitant to hire freshers. Therefore, please gain some work experience and then search for a better organization where you can enhance your skills.

Regards, Chandra Prakash Singh

I appreciate everyone's valuable time in addressing my query. I would like to confirm that I am working in an IT company (Pvt. Ltd.) with over 50 employees. There is only one Director in this company, along with a senior person in finance. I am the HR Generalist here, and the rest are employees in teams such as PHP, Android, B.D., SEO, Web Designing, and Mobile.

There is minimal supervision of my work, although the Director keeps an eye on me. I am trying hard to secure a job in "limited" companies where a team of HR professionals works for employees. I have only completed one year as an HR and am eager to learn more. However, as I mentioned in my query, I am unable to do so as I am working independently.

It seems challenging to land a job in a "limited" company here in Noida, as I am not being selected due to my limited work experience.

Dear Richa,

I fully agree with Mr. Diwakar and Mandy; it is always better to work under a senior manager who can guide you on how to tackle problematic issues. I strongly feel that you should work in a team or under the able guidance of a manager who has reached this position through great struggle.

Thanks,
Phani Kumar
HR Manager

As you stated in the response, you are trying for a change but unable to get it due to a lack of experience. That itself should spur you to learn as you work until you find a 'suitable' or more 'comfortable' environment. While having a mentor or manager to guide you in the initial stages of your work life is important, it should not be a stumbling block or stop you from learning through your daily experiences and accessing available content on websites.

Choose what best suits your company and yourself, and move accordingly. Try to come up with procedures and ask your Director if you could take some courses that would benefit you and the company in return. It is better to keep the job until you find a better one, rather than complain and be unemployed. Stay positive, learn to listen to employees' issues, and seek the best possible solutions within the limitations.

At the end of the day, you have to overcome dependency, even if it means facing challenges head-on. Remember, you are not alone in such situations. Keep working on areas of improvement and try to enjoy your job, wherever you are right now.

As a beginner, it's good to have lots of issues and challenges. This way, you will learn more and be able to cope with harder situations that come your way during your future work. Dealing with these challenges will definitely bring you confidence, belief, conviction, and firmness, leading to a brighter future ahead.

Dear Richa, it seems you are swayed by the advice of almost everyone to work in an HR team rather than as an individual player and are now seeking such a job in a small company.

I do not share the same views as my colleagues and urge you to reconsider and shift your perspective. In this company, you are the sole HR support. You have ample room to think creatively in devising HR policies and procedures in critical areas. By stretching your abilities, you will discover vast opportunities to contribute to talent acquisition, performance management systems, compensation design, and HR operations.

Do not underestimate the chance to work hands-on rather than being just one among many in a team. When it comes to learning, you can engage in original thinking on any HR matter you choose and then collaborate with your senior professional colleague for further insights. This approach will offer better learning experiences compared to working under a manager with a rigid mindset of 'I am right, do as I say,' which can stifle creative thinking.

In my opinion, your current job presents a tremendous opportunity for you to make a lasting impact through your work. With time and dedication, you are likely to secure your dream job.

Regards, Vinayak Nagarkar HR Consultant

Dear Mr. Vinayak Nagarkar, thank you for your thoughtful message. I would like to inform you, sir, that it has been a year since I started working in this organization. During this time, I have gained valuable experience as the sole HR accountable for all HR functions. I am accustomed to handling employee queries and frequently collaborate with the Director to enhance both employee satisfaction and organizational success.

Challenges with Micromanagement

The Director employs a micromanagement style, which presents challenges for me. He does not share login credentials for job portals, yet expects me to recruit candidates effectively. This limitation creates a significant obstacle in the recruitment process.

Recruitment Challenges

Recruiting without the ability to screen and shortlist candidates using a job portal is a daunting task. Merely posting jobs on LinkedIn proves insufficient for attracting suitable candidates. Consequently, I am exploring new opportunities for career growth and development, seeking both monetary and non-monetary advancement. Despite receiving praise for my work, I have not received any appraisals in the past year, leaving me uncertain about the trajectory of my career within this organization.

Lack of Learning Opportunities

I feel restricted in terms of learning opportunities and lack motivation, particularly concerning salary enhancements. Therefore, I am contemplating whether working in a team environment could better align with my career goals.

Your guidance and insights on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Dear Richa,

With the fresh input of your boss being unsupportive rather than coercive, you may consider switching jobs where you can utilize your talents, whether as an HR team member or as a solo HR practitioner.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR Consultant

Dear Team, I have read all of your conversations regarding Ms. Richa. Currently, I am working as an individual HR in a Pvt. Ltd. firm, which is a startup. Despite this being a new venture, I have around 5.5 years of experience. Given the early stage of the company, things are not yet settled, and I am responsible for managing everything on my own. This is a new challenge for me as I have never taken on such a role before. Therefore, I am seeking guidance on establishing policies, an appraisal system, organizing employee activities, and other related matters.

I am basing my decisions on my past experiences, but I feel that there might be areas where I am lacking. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in providing some points or advice on how to navigate these challenges effectively.

Regards, Rajni Chouhan Assistant Manager - HR

Here I am new to the field of HR. May I know what responsibilities are undertaken by an HR executive in the IT sector?

What roles need to be fulfilled to become a good HR professional?

Rajni Chouhan,

Kindly specify where you feel there is a lack. Critical self-analysis is vital for progress. The very fact that you think there is a shortfall shows that you are ready to learn further and grow in the job. Settling everything alone gives you the chance to learn, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes. Please post any specific problems, and experts here will try to guide you.

Dear Suhanraj,

The HR function encompasses many verticals. Kindly share your profile and specify your requirements for a particular vertical. Additionally, please describe the company's strengths and Key Result Areas (KRAs) which depend on the company. Are you involved in recruitment, talent acquisition, training and development, operations, or are you working as an HR Generalist?

Thank you.

I spoke to employees and their team leaders many times, but they always give excuses related to health issues or couldn't wake up, and so on. The total company size is 17 employees. I also conduct monthly reviews to understand them, their work, and any problems they may have, and then present the same to the CEO.

I just want to know what else I can do.

As it is a startup, how can I set up an appraisal system? Is there a process I can share with my CEO.

There are both pros and cons in the profile (designation) of your employment, but from a different angle of thinking, I believe you are lucky enough to work in such an organization where you are given an opportunity to handle everything and anything related to HR. This will enhance your skill sets at the beginning of your career. You have the space to learn, develop, implement, and monitor effectiveness. A problem comes with a solution, and a solution comes with experience, which will, moreover, support you in developing your areas of interest.

It is an individual choice. You want to be a 'Big Fish in a Small Pond' or a 'Small Fish in a Big Pond'. My choice was, when I was in my initial stage, I preferred to be a "Big Fish in a Small Pond" that gave me a lot of opportunity to learn and achieve.

Dear Richa, I have read your queries and responses regarding the guidance provided by experienced personnel.

Observation on Organizational Management

My observation is as follows:

1) The size of the organization, whether big or small, does not matter if your management has clear business objectives and clarity on what they expect from the employees. If this is clearly communicated to the employees, it becomes easier for the HR person to set up the system in place.

2) Since you are the only HR person and do not receive much direction from the management but are expected to run the HR Department smoothly without any escalations to them, I suggest keeping your work simple to start with.

Creating an Employee Datasheet

Make an employee datasheet (Excel Format) with all necessary information such as Employee Name, Employee Code, Designation, Department, Brief Role, Reporting Manager, Date of Joining, Salary details (Breakup), Next Increment Date, Next Appraisal Due Date, Trainings Attended, Leave, Attendance, PF, Benefits Allowed, Reimbursements, etc. You can continue to add to this list as per company policies. Compile and update this information on a daily basis as part of your routine job. Within a month, you should be able to capture all details of 50 persons, which will help you know your employees well.

Tracking Attendance and Leave Records

3) Start by preparing Attendance and Leave Records to track the in-time and out-time of employees in an Excel sheet. On a monthly basis, analyze and submit a report to the Management if attendance and leave are unsatisfactory. Since this is a small organization, I recommend personally talking to employees to understand their problems and resolve issues rather than resorting to written notices.

Assessing Employee Satisfaction

4) Regularly meet with different team members/groups to assess their satisfaction levels regarding work, culture, behavior, facilities, benefits, and expectations from the management. Make note of these points and work towards fulfilling their needs to create best practices for the organization. Remember, each organization is unique, so utilize the available resources in a cost-effective manner to enhance organizational smoothness.

Performance Appraisals and Employee Engagement

5) Performance appraisals, increments, and promotions are crucial. Design policies that align with the company's budget and adhere to deadlines to instill confidence in employees that they are being cared for by the management.

6) Communicate policies to employees through emails and display them on notice boards. Include fun activities for employees such as birthday parties, outings, picnics, competitions, in-house magazines showcasing company updates, achievements, HR initiatives, and policy updates. Establish tie-ups with food vendors for snacks and lunches at nominal rates. Partner with services like PayTM, UBER, and OLA for employee benefits. Engage in various activities to make the office environment vibrant so that employees eagerly anticipate what's next.

All these activities will enhance creativity in your work and elevate your presence in the organization. Your willingness to undertake these tasks is essential. Ask yourself if you are ready to commit, and if so, start working on them step by step. You will find fulfillment and enjoyment in your work.

I hope you understand my perspective. HR is about maintaining good harmonious relations with people in the organization, and HR plays a crucial role as a good manager.

Cheers,
Wilma Gupta

It all depends on the type of industry/company you work in and the headcount you are given to manage. Also, keep in mind that being the only person to manage the HR department has its pros and cons, and vice versa if working in a group of HR professionals. Both situations can provide you with great experiences if you learn to extract the positive aspects from them.

At the end of the day, if you enjoy your role and feel that you are doing justice to yourself and your work, then there's nothing to worry about; just keep rolling the dice. When it comes to facing issues, wherever you go, issues will follow you, much like your shadow. The key is to keep looking straight ahead and not dwell on past challenges, as every issue or problem has a solution.

Remember, where there's a will, there's a way too! Cheers and wishing you all the best!

Regards,
John Reid
Station - HR