What does HR do?

“So what does HR do?” is a typical question I get from relatives and friends. It got me thinking. And off to Google I went.

What I found was very limited, general and disappointing. Some links listed things like “Process paperwork.” Ptui.

So I dashed off a list (see below), a very back of the envelope type of thing. There’s obviously a lot of work to be done yet, but I thought I would toss this out to the LinkedIn hive mind and see what your thoughts were:

Catalog of HR Functions and Activities:

1. Strategic Planning
   1. Strategy development and implementation
   2. Workforce Planning
   3. Organization Design
   4. Budgeting
2. Recruitment
   1. Branding and Attraction
   2. Applicant Management
      1. Job posting/advertising
      2. Applicant Tracking
      3. Screening and Selection
         1. Employment Eligibility verification
         2. Drug testing
         3. Background checks
   3. Interviewing
   4. Scheduling interviews
   5. Preparing and negotiating job offers
3. On-Boarding
   1. Documenting Employment Eligibility
   2. Orientation
4. Payroll
   1. Managing Payroll Vendor(s)
   2. Administration
      1. Producing checks/payments and pay statements
      2. Managing deductions
         1. Federal, state and local taxes
         2. Unemployment Insurance
         3. Garnishments
         4. Federal Withholding
      3. Creating and sending EOY W4s
   3. Handling FAQs
   4. Managing payroll issues/errors
5. Time & Attendance
   1. Leave Administration
   2. Time tracking
6. Staffing (internal movement)
   1. Transfers
   2. Promotions
   3. Demotions
7. Performance Management
   1. Annual Performance Management Process Administration
   2. Managing the employee disciplinary process
      1. Coaching managers and employees
      2. Documentation
      3. Managing Performance Improvement Process
8. Training & Development
   1. Talent Management and Succession Planning
   2. Organizational Effectiveness
      1. Coaching
      2. Team building
      3. Employee surveys
      4. 360/Upward Feedback Surveys
      5. Designing and delivering interventions
9. Compensation
   1. Annual Salary Treatment Administration
   2. Maintaining and updating salary structures and ranges
   3. Job Analysis
   4. Market surveys/intelligence
10. Benefits
    1. Designing and implementing benefits programs
       1. 401K programs
       2. Medical
       3. Vision
       4. Dental
       5. Life Insurance
    2. Managing benefits providers
    3. New Hires
    4. Managing the Annual Open Enrollment process
    5. Managing Life Events
    6. Terminations (COBRA)
11. Employee Advocacy
12. Recognition
    1. Non-monetary awards
    2. Monetary awards
13. Off-Boarding/Termination
    1. Involuntary
       1. Disciplinary
       2. Force Management/Redundancies
       3. Other
    2. Voluntary
       1. Retirement
       2. Other
14. Diversity & Inclusion
15. HR Analytics
16. Health & Safety
    1. Ensuring compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and regulations
    2. Employees Wellness
    3. Employee Assistance Programs
17. Labor (Union) Relations
    1. Contract negotiations
    2. Managing Grievance Procedures
18. Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
    1. Due diligence
    2. Integration
19. HR Vendor Management
20. Compliance
21. Policy
    1. Development
    2. Implementation
    3. Communication
    4. Interpretation
22. Special Projects