Scenario

You are the newly hired Human Resources Manager for Diamond Express, Inc., a customer service and sales organization that has been in operation for 2 years. You were hired to develop a fully functioning human resources department that will provide enhanced HR services for the 150 employees and the leadership team. Over the past 2 years, the human resources functions have been spread among several individuals within the organization, including an administrative position, which processed paperwork, and the management team, which typically handled their own human resources issues.
The CEO recognized the need to bring in an HR professional who will provide more strategic support for the organization to help with their aggressive expansion goals. You are aware that there may be initial resistance from the management team; therefore, you plan to schedule one-on-one meetings with each manager, where you will get to know each manager’s leadership styles, department functions, as well as needs and challenges. You also plan to hold communication sessions with employees to introduce yourself and discuss your role in helping them with HR needs they may have. You realize that for many people trust is earned, and it may take some time for the management team and employees to feel comfortable with you. You are prepared for this!
Before you can begin addressing organizational issues, it will be important to engage in an organizational analysis to identify current issues and set a baseline for your work. This process consists of familiarizing yourself with the company background and assessing existing challenges and issues.
The critical areas in which you intend to focus initially include staffing, policy review, training, performance management, pay practices, benefits, career development/recognition, and retention. You are aware that because the HR functions are currently spread among several individuals within the organization, it is highly likely that procedures and policies are inconsistent within the organization. Through the centralization of these functions under the “HR umbrella,” consistency should be restored. However, this must be done carefully since the individuals involved feel personal responsibility for their functions.
You are very much aware that any initiatives you recommend must be tied to the corporate goals and designed to support the CEO’s vision for the company. If you are to align yourself as a true business partner, you will need to be prepared to provide financial data and other concrete figures to support your recommendations. For example, in your brief time with the company, you quickly recognized an issue with employee turnover. In presenting recommendations, for addressing turnover, remember to include the financial benefit to the company—how a reduction in turnover increases productivity and reduces expenditures. Demonstrating the return on investment for your recommendations will be essential to your providing value-added service to the organization.
Additionally, with all strategies and policies you recommend, you will keep in mind the culture and values of the company and how you can help to support those values through your recommendations. HR policy can either detract from or enhance company performance. You intend to demonstrate, through your recommendations, that you are a strategic business partner focused on helping the company to achieve its goals and remain competitive.
You realize this will be a challenge and know that effective communication and relationship building will be critical and will help to facilitate the changes to be made. You have considered what will be required, and you are prepared and eager to make a difference!

Assignment 1: 400 words

Organizations must abide by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Breaking the law may have consequences such as fines, lawsuits, and even shutdown of corporate facilities. To maintain compliance, organizations develop policies that guide the ethical behavior of employees. In order to explore the differences between laws and policies, please discuss the following:
Describe the difference between a policy and a law and provide an example of each.
Does a company policy override a local, state, or federal law or does a local, state, or federal law override a company policy? Provide justification for your reasoning.
Research and describe an example of an incident when a company broke a federal, state, or local law. What were the consequences of breaking the law? What policies did the company change because of the incident?

Assignment 2 – 1200

Within organizations, the human resources department is considered an ally by some managers and a barrier by others. The legal requirements of managing HR require you to be the dispenser of policies, procedures, and rules at times and a trusted counselor and guide at other times. There are varying perspectives on the value HR policies bring to an organization. In other words, the policies, procedures, or rules may be viewed as tools that help or hinder leaders from managing their people and will either detract from or enhance company performance. When not properly aligned with the company’s goals, they can negatively affect the success of the organization. You know that you need to review the current HR policies, procedures, and rules and anticipate that you may be recommending changes, additions, or deletions. Because you are still new and solidifying your position within the company, you are concerned that missteps now will cost you your “place at the table.”
You decide to consult with your mentor-an experienced, powerful HR executive at another company. She presents the following for you to consider:

  • What steps will you take in your policy, procedure, and HR rules review with the jewelry company?
  • What will that involve? As you consider their HR policies, how will you ensure they are effectively aligned with what you see as the company’s goals?
  • If you find areas where policy revision is needed, how will you present your recommendations?
  • How do you feel your recommendations will be viewed?
  • Do you anticipate resistance? If so, what plan do you have to overcome that?
  • What do you see as the possible outcome from policy revision in terms of impact on the company’s performance?