The Evolving Role of an HR Manager

People are the biggest asset to any organization. Every person who joins the company brings in a new dimension and diversity, which affects the overall culture. Their passion for the job, the talent they possess, their relationships with fellow employees and customers acts as a stepping stone for the company’s success.

But, the integral connection between the company and employees happens because of the human resources team. Due credit must be given to them as they are involved from the beginning to departure in keeping them happy and motivated. Irrespective of its size, every organization needs to recognize the importance of human resource functions. Their role requires keen attention to detail, social skills, and a strong sense of ethics.

As the role of HR continues to evolve, listed below are some activities that an HR manager will have to accommodate in their day-to-day list of tasks.

1. Recruitment

Hiring the right person is very crucial for the team’s success. It is a tedious process which involves:

• Identifying the candidates through multiple offline and online channels
• Using relevant screening and filtering tools to shortlist candidates
• Scheduling meetings with functional managers to identify their expectations
• Conducting background check and other important cross verifications
• Extending an offer letter to the best candidate while sending rejection letters to others
• Negotiating the salary package with the potential new hire
• Engaging the new hire with pre-boarding activities and more until their date of joining

2. Onboarding

According to a Gallup report, 88% of new recruits think that their onboarding process isn’t up to par. This is because most organizations make their new hires spend hours on informal paperwork and lengthy processes instead of assimilating them into the organizational culture.

So, it falls into the HR manager’s list of tasks to find a way to make the onboarding process interesting and fun for new hires while complying with regulations and existing organizational policy.

3. Training and development

In the age where new information sprouts up every few minutes, it takes quite an effort to keep up with the same. Human resources managers need to actively plan training programs, activities, and strategies to keep the learning of their workforce going.

4. Tracking performance

Managing the performance of an employee does not happen overnight. Gone are those days there were half-yearly or yearly appraisals. An HR manager is now expected to work with functional managers to set short-term goals, facilitate a realistic feedback session, and provide inputs for better growth.

This keeps the employees motivated, be mindful of their shortfalls, and gives room for personal and professional development.

5. Handling employee records

A human resources function is not complete without handling everyday timesheets and time-off approvals. Although simple, it is very important to manage confidential employee information securely.

Rather than spending their valuable time on arduous tasks like managing timesheets and reviewing time-off requests, HR managers need to look for possible ways to automate the process since they leave a lasting effect on the organization’s bottom line.

6. Offboarding

Goodbyes are hard but inevitable. HR managers need to ensure that their offboarding process is simple yet pleasant. A consistent off-boarding process will also leave a lasting impression on the employee and protects the reputation of the company.

Real challenges of handling HR functions

The role of HR is promising and enterprising on paper. But in real-time it has gotten more challenging with non-traditional work hours, different types of employees (freelancers, remote, full-time, part-time), hiring the top talent amongst the competition, retaining them, and handling diverse work-place conflict. There is always something that requires your attention.

The hours are long and maintaining the records take up too much space. Listed below are some of the real challenges faced by HR professionals:

• Paper-heavy processes
• Overflowing inboxes
• Too much dependency on spreadsheets
• Higher operational costs
• Time-consuming nature of processes
• Lack of visibility in HR processes

Facing the challenge

As the role and scope of their position continue to evolve, it becomes impossible to fulfil their expectations, manage employee data, ensure process transparency, and execute everything on time. This is where HR management tools come in handy.

An all-in-one HR suite like Kissflow HR Cloud can improve productivity, engage employees efficiently, ensure accuracy, and offer actionable insights. The infographic listed below gives a clear overall picture of the difference a customizable HR tool can make in the day-to-day life of an HR professional.

Conclusion

The human resources manager work behind-the-scenes to ensure that the company runs like a well-oiled machine. And, to make their life a little easier, there are plenty of HR tools that cater to your needs. The important aspect is to look for integration with the existing system, accessible interface, the flexibility of solutions, and striking price point.

Kissflow HR cloud comes with pre-built modules for every important HR function. From application tracking, performance reviews, time management, offboarding, it has everything in a single place. Don’t believe us? Get started on a free trial to try out for yourself.