10 Things HR Departments Do for Employees

10 Things HR Departments Do for Employees10 Things HR Departments Do for EmployeesYou know your HR department as the people who hired you, the people who give you gobs of paperwork to fill out, and the people who might fire you if you become a slacker or the geschftliches miteinander needs a change. As such, many people feel like avoiding HR is the best path to success- stay off their radar and all will be good. But, did you know that theres a lot of career help available in your HR department? HR staff may not specialize in your job, but they are specialists in helping with careers, and they are there to help. Here are ten reasons why you might want to stop by your HR managers office today. Career Planning You may have heard that HR is focused on helping the business succeed, and not on career help for individual employees. This is true. But, the business wont succeed if there arent good employees, andgood employees want to move forwardin their careers.Your HR manager can often help you map out the path to your ultimate goal. If you want to be the CFO, she can help you identify areas where you are weak and areas where you are strong, and help direct you down career paths. Bonus- when the senior leadership team says, we need someone to do X, if youve told her thats something youre interested in, your name is more likely to come up. Managing Your Manager Not every manager is awesome. And not every awesome manager is awesome for every employee. Whether youve got a manager you just dont click with or a micro-managing jerk, your HR department can help.zum vorteil von tip Dont complain about your manager, just ask what you can do to make it better. Heres a suggested opening phrase Jane and I binnenseem to clash a lot. Can you give me some tips on how to get along better?Continuing Education Does your company offer tuition reimbursement? If you dont know the answer to that question, head to HR and ask. Lots of companies offer this perk- especially if the degree or ce rtification youre seeking is something to help the company directly.If youre an accountant, asking the company to pay for your masters degree in Art History probably wont fly except at companies that provide assistance for any college coursework. But, if you want to ask for tuition assistance for review classes for your CPA, theres a good chance theres money available.If youre not in need of a new degree, but want to improve skills, ask about certification classes or even MOOCsthat can help you fill your knowledge gaps. Changing a Performance Rating welches your last performance appraisal accurate? Now, most of the time, HR is going to side with your manager- your manager sees your day to day work and HR oversees numerous employees. But, if you feel there was a genuine mistake in your rating, talk to HR.Your HR manager will look over your review and compare it with your peers and your prior reviews. If she feels there is a case, shell talk with your manager. Pro Tip Come with solid evidence of your performance, not just a complaint that the review is not fair. Resume Help This may seem counter-intuitive Your HR department doesnt want you to leave and leavingis the only reason whyyou might need your resume up to date, right? Wrong. If youre applying for membership in a professional society, looking at an internal promotion, or want to be accepted to graduate school your resume is a helpful tool.Additionally, if you are laid off, sometimes your former HR department will provide help with your resume. Ask The worst they will say is no.Personal Problems HR managers are not therapists, priests, or lawyers, so dont expect free therapy or confidential advice from them. (Although, do ask to keep things confidential if its important to you. Your HR manager should say, I cant keep this confidential if she cant. if you complain that your boss is sexually harassing you, shes required by law to investigate.)But, if youre struggling in your marriage or drowning in a sea of debt, she can helpdirect you towards an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If your ex-boyfriend is stalking you, she can help notify security and reception to keep an eye out for him and to help make a plan to keep you safe. Pro Tip The EAP number is probably on the company website, but feel free to ask HR. Medical Problems Do you or a family member have health problems? Are you or your spouse pregnant? Head to HR. If you start missing work because of migraines but dont say anything, you could get fired for violating attendance policies, but if you come to HR, you can fill out the paperwork for legal protection.Your problem might fall under the Americans With Disabilities Act or the Family Medical Leave Act. With both, you need to ask for help. Dont assume your manager will automatically know the reason for your absences qualifies you for protection. Remember, these laws often protect your family members as well- if you need time to take care of a seriously ill family member. Whistl e Blowing of Any Kind Some big companies have anonymous tip lines for any violations you may see others have a designated person with whom you can talk. But you can always walk in and talk to Human Resources about this as well. You can report anything from safety violations to securities violations to your HR department.Theyll set an investigation in motion.Managing Your Employees If you manage employees, your career success depends on their career success. If you want help knowing how to manage without being overbearing, how to discipline fairly, and how to get the best results from your team, ask your HR manager.Your HR manager may provide coaching to managers directly, or she may refer you to a management class or consultant. Take the referral. The class or consulting are worth your time. Help You Navigate the Law You dont want to confuse HR managers with employment law attorneys, but they should have a good grasp on basic employment law. If a co-worker complains that her boss is acting creepy, you can go to HR for advice and report sexual harassment.If you have an employee threatens to sue you, report it immediately- even if youre sure hes just blowing off steam. Dont let legal problems build. HR has the resources to help guide you, and they know when to call in the big guns- the attorneys. While HR will always have paperwork for you to fill out, dont forget that they are there to help the company succeed. That means that HR knows that the individual employees also need to succeed. Have a chat and see if they can help you help your career soar. - - - - - - - - - - - - Suzanne Lucas is a freelance journalist specializing in Human Resources. Suzannes work has been featured on notes publications including Forbes, CBS, Business Insider and Yahoo.