0358 - Understanding the Human Resources Function

Course Description

Course Details 
 
No matter what role we play in an organization, we are all affected by human resources. This course is designed to help people without experience in human resources to understand this very vital link in the organizational chain. It will prepare both managers and business owners to handle basic human resource functions in a way that will ensure the best possible result. In particular, attention is given to the hiring process, including ways to locate quality employees in a competitive labor market. Employee rights and the legal side of the human resource field are also covered.      
 
How It Works 
 
This course is fully online, you require internet access and an email account. The course duration is 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week period to complete the final exam (online, open book). Lessons are released on Wednesdays and Fridays of each week, for a total of 12.   You are not required to be online at any specific time. In addition to the specific lesson content, there is a discussion board with each lesson and often there is an optional assignment to apply the learning. Following each lesson,   there is a short multiple choice quiz. Your score on these quizzes does not count towards the final mark but completing these helps solidify your learning as well as prepare you for the final exam. The final exam is an open-book, multiple choice exam   and you need to achieve a minimum of 65% on the final exam to pass the course. There is only one opportunity to pass the exam. A certificate of completion from WatSPEED is available within four weeks of successful completion of each course and can be accessed in your student portal. Many of the Ed2Go courses are eligible towards the various online certificates offered by WatSPEED. 

Syllabus

Lesson 1 - The History of Human Resources. Do you ever wonder why the field of human resources is the way it is? How it has evolved? In our first lesson, we'll travel through history to explore the roots of human resources. You'll see how the modern human resource function has evolved from trade guilds, through the industrial revolution, to modern times.

Lesson 2 - Human Resources Functions in Today's Organization. What exactly does the human resource professional do on the job? In this lesson, we'll take a look at the variety of vital activities that are frequently included in the human resources function. This variety can include everything from recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees, to labor management relations and workplace safety and training.

Lesson 3 - The Hiring Process: Part 1. How does someone go about finding and hiring a new employee? The initial preparation for hiring is often done in the quiet of an office, which may make it seem like new employees just magically appear. Today, we'll explore what goes on in that quiet office to ensure that the employee who appears is the right one for the job. We'll focus on preparing advertisements and application forms, how to review and screen applications, conduct interviews, and verify information to ensure that it's correct.

Lesson 4 - The Hiring Process: Part 2. Interviews and background checks are key components of the hiring process. The interview is your chance to evaluate the job applicant in person to see how well his or her skills match your job requirements. So today, we'll look at each part of the interview—from how to set it up and what approach to take to rating the person after the interview.

Lesson 5 - Finding Employees in a Competitive Labor Market. How do you get someone to apply for a job? Solid recruiting practices using both traditional and nontraditional techniques will ensure that you have a large pool of applicants from which to pick and choose. Traditionally, many companies simply run a classified job ad when they need a new employee, but in this lesson, we'll explore other alternatives that may be equally effective in recruiting.

Lesson 6 - Retaining Quality Employees. What motivates a quality employee to stay on the job? What can you do to keep employees happy and working? In this lesson, we'll analyze job satisfaction and the factors that keep employees happy. Then we'll look at some unique programs that provide incentives for employees to stay on the job a long time.

Lesson 7 - Respecting Employee Rights. What rights do employees have? What are moral rights and how can the company protect them? What is the difference between a moral and a legal right? This lesson explores both moral and legal rights and how they can be used to benefit employees. We'll also take a look at what to do if an employee complains that either moral or legal rights are not being protected.

Lesson 8 - Laws Relating to Human Resources. What legal responsibilities does a company owe its employees? Today's lesson provides an overview of the many laws that impact the workplace. We'll examine laws that govern union-management interactions, prohibit discrimination, set wage and hour requirements, and set benefit and safety standards. I'll also point out some Internet resources that will help you easily stay up to date as these laws change.

Lesson 9 - Policy Making. Do you have a policy manual at work? What policies are included in the manual? How does anyone ever decide what policies to include? In this lesson, we'll take a look at policy manuals—what they should include, what policies are most common, and what you should do to ensure that your policies comply with the law.

Lesson 10 - Employee Communications. How can workplace communication be effective? What should you do to ensure that communication is taking place on a regular basis? Today, we'll focus on the need for effective communication programs at work and how to implement them. You'll find out how to keep communication running smoothly throughout the organization.

Lesson 11 - Administration of Employee Benefit Programs. What should a strong employee benefit program include? What is involved in putting a benefit package together? Benefits are a great way to attract and keep employees. So today we'll take a look at such common employment benefits as insurance and retirement. We'll cover how to put together a benefit package, and options for including free benefits that are attractive to employees.

Lesson 12 - Human Resources—A Source of Quality. Have you ever wondered what makes a human resource professional successful? In our final lesson, we'll take a look at eight habits that successful professionals adopt. You'll leave with the insight and ability to achieve excellence at work!

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Business Essentials : Mandatory