The Challenges of Human Resource Management

As the business landscape continues to evolve, so does the role of human resource management. Now, some HR managers work side-by-side with top executives, supporting a company’s long-term strategic ambitions.

It’s a complex job brimming with challenges. Chief among them is building a recruiting system that attracts and retains high-quality, talented employees because they exhibit specific skills that match company needs. Other focus areas include creating and managing strong workforce training programs, developing leadership within the ranks of company employees, and building a diverse, inclusive workforce.

HR managers also maintain high standards for professionalism and ethics. As detailed in the code of ethics from the Society of Human Resource Managers, “As HR professionals, we are responsible for adding value to the organizations we serve and contributing to the ethical success of those organizations.”

Accomplishing these goals requires HR managers with a unique mix of skills in both business and human resources. The need to gain those skills convinces many aspiring HR managers to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management (BSBA) with a Human Resources Management concentration.

What Does an HR Manager Do?

An HR manager’s specific role may differ from business to business. However, the trend in recent years has seen HR managers become more directly involved in business strategy. Leaders now recognize the need to incorporate HR when developing both short-term and long-term plans.

HR managers bridge the gap between setting company goals and recruiting and training the people who can meet those goals. They also assess worker productivity and make recommendations to management on how changes could improve company performance.

Human resource management also continues to do what they have done for decades:

• Oversee the administrative functions of an organization
• Ensure compliance with government regulations
• Develop and deliver training to employees
• Oversee employee benefits programs
• Handle all the tasks and paperwork involved with soliciting job applications and the hiring process
• Mediate disputes between employees and management, including directing disciplinary actions

Companies compensate HR managers well for performing this complex mix of job duties. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that HR managers made a median annual pay of $121,220 in May 2020. They also project a 6% increase in the number of HR managers between 2019 and 2029.

Top Challenges in HR

Due to the complex nature of the job, the list of human resource management challenges is quite long. However, the following five issues rank among the most likely – and most difficult – HR managers currently face.

Skills learned in a business degree program focused on human resources prepare graduates to succeed in these situations.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

This area becomes more robust with each passing decade as more laws governing how companies work with employees are passed at the local, state, and federal levels. Of particular note in recent years are regulations concerning inclusion and diversity, especially for companies that work under contract with governmental agencies.

Management Changes

Changes at the top of a company can cause lower morale and loss of productivity among employees. HR managers must work harder than ever during times of change to communicate well with employees, helping them understand their role in the company, and provide training and support needed to shore up skills valued by new leadership.

Workforce Training and Development

Spending time and energy on creating a strong training and development program helps both employees and employers. Workers learn new skills to advance up the corporate ladder and into better positions with more responsibility and pay. Employers gain the advantage of having a highly trained pool of in-house talent. It’s easier to promote an entry-level worker and find someone to take their old job than it is to recruit someone for a higher position.

Leadership Development

As part of training and development, the focus of leadership development is identifying potential future leaders and investing the resources to develop them for top positions. That gives the company a deeper talent pool of potential leaders. Talented employees are more likely to stay with a company that has a leadership development program in place.

Compensation

One of the main jobs of HR managers is to understand the current compensation landscape for relevant professions. This awareness helps to avoid offering salaries that are too low or too high. For companies unable to compete with the best pay, HR managers need to develop other benefits, including a more generous working from home policy, offering amenities at the office, bonuses, and profit-sharing.

How A BSBA in Human Resource Management Prepares You for Success

Earning a BSBA with a concentration in Human Resource Management prepares graduates for a successful career as an HR manager. The BSBA program offered by Touro University Worldwide is offered 100% online, giving students the ability to schedule schoolwork around their professional responsibilities and more conveniently attain their educational goals.

The program includes core business classes covering management theory and ethics, IT application in business management, organizational behavior, international management, and strategic management. Students also take courses that teach them the fundamentals of business statistics, marketing, finance and budgeting, and business law.

In the human resource management concentration, students take courses that prepare them for careers in human resource management, employee training and appraisal, human resource planning, and as an HR legal expert. The courses include:

• Training and Development Management
• Legal Environment of HRM
• Employee Performance and Appraisal Management
• Workforce Planning and Employment

Students graduate from the TUW program with problem-solving HR management skills and a strong foundation in human resource theories. It’s a smart step for those who aspire to a position in human resource management and want an education that prepares them for the profession’s unique issues and challenges.