Fundamentals of Human Resources Management

Fundamentals of Human Resources Management

by Diane Arthur
Released September 2015
Publisher(s): AMA Self-Study
ISBN: 9780761215752

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Book description

Fundamentals of Human Resources Management is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to virtually every aspect of human resources management from understanding the basic HR functions to using the internet for recruiting to selecting the latest HRIS. Whether new to the profession or a newly promoted professional, students will find in this course all the information and skills they need to do their job and make a positive impact in their organization.
Students will learn how to:
• Write job descriptions and specifications; develop cost-effective, competitive compensation and benefits programs
• Recruit, select, interview, and hire more qualified employees in full compliance with Federal and State laws
• Implement a results-based performance management plan
• Develop policies and procedures manuals and employee handbooks
• Select and use a Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
• Evaluate training options to provide optimal training and development opportunities for all workers
• Build a mentoring program to aid in succession planning
• Create HR budgets and strategic plans that align with senior management priorities
• Leverage new information on employee assistance and health insurance options to strengthen employee benefit programs
Now completely revised, the fifth edition of this course covers new trends in training and development, the latest thinking on hiring, updated information on employment-related legal issues, insight on the changing role of unions, guidance on online recruitment and the smart use of social media, information on electronic performance management systems, a glossary of key terms, and much more. This trusted resource equips students to meet today’s HR challenges and gain competitive advantage for their companies.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. About This Course
  6. How to Take This Course
  7. Pre-Test
  8. 1 The Human Resources Function: An Overview
    1. Introduction
    2. The History of Personnel/Human Resources
    3. Today’s Successful HR Practitioner
      1. Important Competencies
    4. HR Challenges
    5. Establishing an HR Function
      1. HR Staff Ratios
      2. HR Budgets
      3. What’s in a Name?
    6. The HR Function in Small and Mid-Sized vs. Large Organizations
      1. Degree of Specialization
      2. Number of Geographic Locations
      3. Unionization
      4. Variety of Jobs
      5. Hierarchy of Reporting Relationships
      6. Grievances and Disciplinary Issues
    7. The HR Function in Relation to Non-HR Functions
      1. Employment-Related Legal Issues
      2. The Employment Process: Recruitment and Interviewing
      3. The Selection Process: Hiring and Orientation
      4. Compensation
      5. Performance Management
      6. Benefits Administration
      7. Employee Relations
      8. Training and Development
      9. Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS)
    8. Recap
    9. Review Questions
  9. 2 HR Management and Employment-Related Legal Issues
    1. Introduction
    2. Employment-Related Legislation
      1. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938
      2. Civil Rights Act of 1866
      3. Equal Pay Act (EPA) of 1963
      4. Civil Rights Act of 1964
      5. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967
      6. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1970
      7. Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978
      8. Immigration and Reform Control Act (IRTCA) of 1986
      9. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008
      10. Civil Rights Act of 1991
      11. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993
      12. Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994
      13. Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008
      14. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
      15. Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA)
    3. The Impact of Employment-Related Legislation on HR Management
    4. At-Will Employment and Termination
    5. Negligent Hiring and Retention
    6. Avoiding Discrimination Charges
    7. Recap
    8. Review Questions
  10. 3 The Employment Process: Preparation, Recruitment, Interviewing and Documentation
    1. Introduction
    2. Interview Preparation
      1. Step One: Become Familiar with the Job
      2. Step Two: Review the Employment Application or Resume
      3. Step Three: Plan Basic Questions
    3. Recruitment
      1. Recruitment Sources
      2. Electronic Recruiting
      3. Successful Recruitment Guidelines
    4. Interview Questioning Techniques
      1. Competency-Based Questions
      2. Open-Ended Questions
      3. Hypothetical Questions
      4. Probing Questions
      5. Closed-Ended Questions
    5. Documentation
      1. Objective and Subjective Language
      2. Avoid Recording Unsubstantiated Opinions
      3. Refer to Job-Related Facts
      4. Documentation for Jobs Without Tangible Requirements
    6. Recap
    7. Review Questions
  11. 4 The Hiring Process: Selection and Orientation
    1. Introduction
    2. Preemployment Testing
      1. How Preemployment Tests Are Used
      2. Testing Advantages and Disadvantages
      3. Test Administration
      4. Test Administrators
      5. Preemployment Testing Policies
      6. Types of Preemployment Tests
    3. References
      1. Legal Concerns
      2. Traditional Phone References
      3. Social Media Versus Traditional Phone References
    4. Background Checks
      1. Basic Fair Credit Reporting Act Compliance
    5. Final Selection Factors
    6. Orientation Programs
      1. Organizational Orientation Programs
      2. Departmental Orientation Programs
      3. Self-Directed and Web-Based Orientation
    7. Recap
    8. Review Questions
  12. 5 Compensation
    1. Introduction
    2. Characteristics of an Effective Compensation Program
    3. Job Descriptions
      1. Before Writing Job Descriptions
      2. Generic and Specific Job Descriptions
      3. Job Description Contents
      4. Guidelines for Writing Job Descriptions
    4. Position Evaluations
      1. Benchmarking
    5. Specific Compensation Programs
      1. Base Pay
      2. Merit Increase System
      3. Single Rates
      4. Variable Pay
      5. Skill-Based Pay
      6. Competency-Based Pay
      7. Broadbanding
      8. Gainsharing
      9. Long-Term Incentive Compensation
    6. Recap
    7. Review Questions
  13. 6 Performance Management
    1. Introduction
    2. Objectives and Uses
    3. Components of an Effective Program
    4. Performance Management Methods
      1. Essay or Narrative Evaluation
      2. Graphic Rating Scale
      3. Weighted Checklist
      4. Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scale (BARS)
      5. Forced Choice
      6. Critical Incident
      7. Ranking
      8. Forced Distribution
      9. Behavioral Observation Scales (BOS)
      10. 360-Degree Evaluation
      11. Self-Evaluation
      12. Management by Objectives (MBO)
      13. Balanced Scorecard
      14. The Future of Performance Management
    5. Allocation of Performance Management Responsibilities
      1. Coaching and Counseling
    6. Performance Management Forms
      1. Uses of Performance Management Forms
      2. Instructions and Training
      3. Numerical Ratings
      4. Misuses of Performance Management Forms
      5. Limitations of Forms
    7. Electronic Performance Management
      1. Advantages of Electronic Performance Management
      2. Disadvantages of Electronic Performance Management
    8. Performance Management Meetings
      1. Preparing for a Performance Management Meeting
      2. Conducting the Performance Management Meeting
      3. Performance Management Meeting Pitfalls
    9. Recap
    10. Review Questions
  14. 7 Benefits Administration
    1. Introduction
    2. Recent Benefits Trends
      1. Employee Responses
      2. Employer Responses
      3. Recommended Action
      4. Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
    3. Primary Objectives of Benefits Programs
    4. Federally Mandated Employee Benefits
      1. Social Security and Medicare
      2. Unemployment Insurance
      3. Workers’ Compensation
      4. Family and Medical Leave
      5. Affordable Care Act (ACA)
    5. Additional Benefits Legislation
      1. Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974
      2. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996
      3. New EEOC Guidance on Discrimination in Employee Benefits
    6. Health Care Insurance Plan Options
      1. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
      2. Fee-For-Service Insurance
      3. Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs)
    7. Selecting an Insurance Carrier
      1. Questions to Ask Carriers
    8. Recap
    9. Review Questions
  15. 8 Employee Relations
    1. Introduction
    2. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
      1. EAP Benefits for Employers
      2. Cost of an EAP
      3. EAP Providers
      4. Confidentiality
    3. Grievances and Disciplinary Procedures
      1. Grievance Procedures
      2. Disciplinary Procedures
    4. Alternative Dispute Resolution
    5. HR Policies and Procedures Manuals and Employee Handbooks
      1. Policies and Procedures Manuals
      2. Employee Handbooks
    6. Employee Retention
      1. What Employees Want
      2. The Impact of Managers on Turnover
      3. Retention Challenges in Today’s Workplace
      4. Communication: The Key Component of a Retention Environment
      5. Rewards and Recognition Programs
    7. Recap
    8. Review Questions
  16. 9 Training/Learning and Development
    1. Introduction
    2. Training and Development Trends
      1. Training Costs
      2. Linking Learning with Performance
      3. The Role of HR
      4. Knowledge Management
    3. Needs Assessment
      1. Types of Needs Assessment
    4. Directed Training vs. Nondirected Training
      1. Directed Training
      2. Nondirected Training
    5. Distance Learning
      1. Advantages and Disadvantages of Distance Learning
      2. Distance Learning Guidelines
    6. Classroom Training vs. Distance Learning
    7. Blended Learning
    8. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Training
      1. Isolate Competencies
      2. Application of Learning
    9. Career Development
      1. Career Development Model
      2. Succession Planning
      3. Acceleration Pool
    10. Mentoring
      1. Mentoring Programs
    11. Recap
    12. Review Questions
  17. 10 Human Resources Management Systems
    1. Introduction
    2. Guidelines for Using, Selecting, Upgrading and Implementing an HRMS
      1. Uses of an HRMS
      2. Selecting an HRMS Project Team
      3. Upgrading an Existing HRMS
      4. Steps for Implementing an HRMS
    3. Selecting a Vendor
      1. Request for Proposal (RFP)
      2. Product Demonstrations
      3. The HRMS Contract
    4. Self-Service Applications
    5. HRMS Costs
      1. Internal or External Development
      2. Anticipated Costs
      3. Scope Creep
      4. Business Impact
    6. Privacy and Security Issues
    7. HRMS Maintenance
    8. Recap
    9. Review Questions
  18. Bibliography
  19. Glossary
  20. Post-Test
  21. Index

Product information

  • Title: Fundamentals of Human Resources Management
  • Author(s): Diane Arthur
  • Release date: September 2015
  • Publisher(s): AMA Self-Study
  • ISBN: 9780761215752