An Introduction to Human Resources
- The human resources (employees) of a business need to be managed
- Effective human resource management is important because:
- It ensures that the organisation has the right people in the right roles, with the right support and opportunities to succeed
- It also helps create a positive work environment
- This will lead to higher productivity, improved efficiency and a competitive advantage
Diagram: The benefits of effective human resource management
Effective human resource management can provide a competitive advantage
Staff as an asset and a cost
- Staff are an asset to a business as they bring knowledge, skills, and expertise to the business
- Staff can increase productivity, drive innovation and enhance customer service - all of which contribute to the success and profitability of the business
- Staff can help to build a positive reputation for the business through their interactions with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders
- Staff also generate costs for a business, and for many businesses, staffing costs are one of the largest costs they have. These costs include:
- Hiring and training workers
- Managing workers as managers have to be hired
- Paying the salaries and wages staff
- Additional benefits, such as company cars, pensions, healthcare, etc
- Letting workers go often requires (redundancy payments)