The role of human resources

Overview

The tasks of the human resources function, workforce planning, skills audits, seasonal staffing, keeping to employment law, and how poor human resource management harms a business.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is the purpose of the human resources function?

   Model answer

   Human resources makes sure a business has enough staff with the right skills. Staff must be in the right place at the right time.

2. 2

   Name four main tasks of a human resources department.

   Model answer

   A human resources department recruits staff, organises training, sets pay and makes sure employment law is followed.

3. 3

   What is workforce planning?

   Model answer

   Workforce planning means working out how many staff, with which skills, a business will need in future.

4. 4

   How does a business identify its human resource needs?

   Model answer

   A business compares the staff it has with the staff its plans require. Gaps appear when staff leave, the business grows or new skills are needed.

5. 5

   Why does a growing business need to plan its human resources carefully?

   Model answer

   New branches or products need extra staff who must be recruited and trained in advance. Too few staff can lead to poor service and lost sales.

6. 6

   What happens if a business employs too many staff?

   Model answer

   Wage costs are higher than necessary, which cuts profit. Staff may have too little to do and become demotivated.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.