Business

Human Resource Management (HRM or HR) is essentially the management of human resources. It is a function in organizations designed to maximize employee performance in service of an employer’s strategic objectives. There are several functions of the HR team including staffing, training and professional development, compensation, safety and health, and employee and labor relations. Microsoft’s HR team focus their efforts on similar functions with the addition of employee retention and reward management. Microsoft’s recruitment and selection strategies (staffing) include creating a pool of potential candidates, reviewing online applications, and administering interviews and tests that determine the applicant’s personality. Microsoft’s employee retention (selected candidates remain with the company) strategies include annual employee recognition, social gatherings, and personal offices with decorations of employee’s choice. Microsoft’s training and development strategies include “technical education seminars, management and professional development courses, the IT learning site, and Microsoft Training and Certification programs (1).” Performance evaluations determine what areas the business can improve in and help identify goals that need to be met. Of course, safety and health are vital to the success of a business. For example, amidst the COVID 19 pandemic, Microsoft is taking the steps of

1. Requiring proof of vaccination for all employees (those with religious objections have accommodations).

2. Pushing full reopening until October (to ensure no more spikes in cases). 3. Reviewing the COVID-19 cases on a local basis in each region/country/state where they

operate and adjusting dates and policies as needed. In order to address social issues like the protection of rights and maintaining environmental health, Microsoft applies the HIPPA/COVID-19 guidelines of allowing sick days, keeping the identity of some affected people private knowledge (unless necessary to share information), taking temperatures, etc.

REFERENCE TEXTS:

1. UKEssays. (November 2018). Microsoft's success: Corporate strategy and human resources strategy. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/business/microsofts-success-in-aligning-corporate-str ategy-and-human-resources-strategy-business-essay.php?vref=1

2. Microsoft will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter buildings in the US Peters https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/3/22607690/microsoft-proof-vaccination-covid-19-us-b uildings-office-reopening