In the world of today, where businesses are struggling to succeed with challenges in hitting their topline (budget)

I have listed some ways in which Human Resources or Personnel or Employee Relations department can assist its organisation to overcome major challenges. Specifically,this write-up is prepared bearing in mind the Nigerian business environment and the quality of managers at the helm of affairs in such organisation (private). This article is not gender-specific and tends to address a broad area of business management.

A typical job function of the Head of HR has been listed below:

1. Maintains the work structure by updating job requirements and job descriptions for all positions.

- New employees should be given organisation's handbook written in English or any formal means of communication in that organisation
- Job description should be designed for every job in the organisation with appropriate grades.
- Job description should be revised annually.

2. Maintains organization staff by establishing a recruiting, testing, and interviewing program; counseling managers on candidate selection; conducting and analyzing exit interviews; recommending changes.

- Employees must be recruited according to need basis and approval of MD/leadership.
- Recruitment process must be cheap, no need to acquire cost on this process.
- Use contemporary methods for publicising positions (internal and external).
- Be a part of the recruitment team.
- Include salaries and benefits in all adverts regardless of the position.
- Upon exit of employees, invest time in searching for an ideal replacement (3 months is ideal)
- Recommend changes to Top management even if it demands paying more for Talent.
- Keep your employee retention high. A 90% is ideal and recommended.

3. Prepares employees for assignments by establishing and conducting orientation and training programs.

- Ensure employees are properly on-boarded from first day.
- Ensure that new employees have the right tools to work from day one, including workstation etc.
- Notify all Heads of department of a new entrant and share the orientation and training plans in good time.
- Present a professional outlook to the employee as "first impression matters." For instance, no vernacular, no foul languages, etc
- Hire a better candidate so that you save cost on training.

4. Maintains a pay plan by conducting periodic pay surveys; scheduling and conducting job evaluations; preparing pay budgets; monitoring and scheduling individual pay actions; recommending, planning, and implementing pay structure revisions.

- An annual budget for the employees is important. Cover every beat. From man-hours to be spent to salaries and increments etc
- Check what competition is doing. What is the market pay scale?
- Adopt the Bell Curve when provisioning for pay structure revisions.

5. Ensures planning, monitoring, and appraisal of employee work results by training managers to coach and discipline employees; scheduling management conferences with employees; hearing and resolving employee grievances; counseling employees and supervisors.

- Ensure an annual appraisal is conducted in the organisation.
- Tutor managers how to handle individual cases by training them towards the end of the year especially November.
- Employee grievances should be handled by line-manager first and then intervene if the issues remains unresolved.
- Undertake counselling of all employees in the organisation as desired.

6. Ensures legal compliance by monitoring and implementing applicable human resource federal and state requirements; conducting investigations; maintaining records; representing the organization at hearings.

- Obtain all permits and have copies of all approved legislation e.g Labour Act regarding human resources management.
- You don't have to be a lawyer to represent the organization in functions relating legal compliance.
- Keep a close company with peers in the same industry
- Enhance your working knowledge by seeking certification.

7. Maintains management guidelines by preparing, updating, and recommending human resource policies and procedures.

- This has to be done in line with industry standards.

8. Maintains historical human resource records by designing a filing and retrieval system; keeping past and current records.

- This is important as ex-employees could resort to litigation in case of unfair dismissal.
- Necessary for audit purposes.
- Important for long service awards, gratuity calculation and terminal benefits.

9. Maintains human resource staff job results by counseling and disciplining employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

- Motivate the Team (this can be achieved without high budget).
- Keep the momentum of the Team high especially as the business environment is tough.

It is general that the environment of most businesses are facing tough times today, the HR department can contribute to organisation's success, if it undertakes some of the points raised in this article. Individuals heading the relevant department must act ethically and professional in their dealings. They should avoid actions capable of casting their reputation in bad light.

Issues relating to gender, relationships among employees should be handled with utmost care and respect. Amorous relationships should be banned in any organisation. I am sure I have been able to cover the basics. Wishing you the best of time while looking towards the new year.

All the best!

Where is lalasticlala sef?

Nice writeup, sir.
Do u work in HR?