What Are the Functions of Human Resource Managers?
Liberty University
AVIA 245 Aviation Leadership
Professor: Jim Molloy
2022
The goal of a human resource manager is to strengthen the employer-employee relationship. This
goal is supported by a variety of functions within the human resources department and throughout the
organization. In a small business, the human resource manager may have a great degree of latitude, as
well as the time to devote to employee interaction with a small workforce. Both of these are key
elements of an effective human resources leader, although she must accomplish a number of functions
to achieve this goal.
Tip
The human resource manager is the “face of HR” and therefore relied upon to be both human
resources expert and employee advocate.
Manage HR Department
The manager of the human resources department is responsible for ensuring that department
employees are well-versed in their areas of expertise. The various disciplines of HR require expertise in
compensation, benefits, safety, payroll, recruiting and training. Ideally, the human resource manager is a
generalist, which means his expertise is cross-discipline.
Knowledge of Laws
Managing the human resources department also requires knowledge of federal and state
employment and labor laws and regulations that apply to human resources professionals. For example,
the human resource manager will designate the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act) officer in charge of all medical and health-related records for the workplace.
Interaction With Executive Leadership
An effective human resource manager is in constant communication with executive leadership. The
HR department is not a revenue-generating source. Consequently, it is important for an organization’s
leaders to understand the return on investment (ROI) in human resources activities as a contribution to
the company’s bottom line.
In a small business, the ROI may be more readily seen than in a large conglomerate. The human
resource manager for a small business, and thus a smaller workforce, can easily implement methods and
strategies that may show faster results. The bureaucratic hierarchy of a large organization often puts
many more layers of authority between the human resource manager and executive leadership.
Employer-Employee Relations
A human resource manager who stays in her office all day will not be effective at building strong
relationships with employees. Another function of the human resource manager is to gain the trust and
confidence of employees, and the best way to establish trust is through daily interaction with the
workforce.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, human resources occupations require strong
interpersonal skills. Again, with a smaller workforce, the results of an HR manager's interpersonal skills
may be seen more quickly than in a large organization. Employee relations is a large part of the human
resources manager’s job function, because employee concerns encompass a wide range of issues over
which the manager has influence.
