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IDear Workforce-I I’m Starting an HR Department. What’s the First Thing I Should Do

By Staff Report

Jul. 24, 2000

Q


Dear Workforce:


I am working as the HR Manager in India. I have been recruited by the company to start the HR department for them. There has been no HR department as such in the company before my existence.


My question to you is WHAT IS THE FIRST THING TO DO WHEN STARTING THE HR DEPARTMENT IN A COMPANY? Please answer my question as this is very urgent.
—Manish, HR Manager, India.


 


A Dear Manish:


Run!!!!!


Oh, seriously. First three things:


1) Get a hold of the company’s business plan. If they don’t have one, urge them to develop one. Find out what their plans are over the next three years. See how they plan to ramp up.


2) Develop a separate document, an HR strategy plan. This will be one you develop, based on information you glean from the business plan. It will show who you need to hire, their competencies, the rewards system you’ll need, the compensation system, the benefits.


3) Develop a performance management system. Identify when and how to evaluate people, and how to develop them to move up.


This list could go on, but those are some of the high-level steps you’ll want to take before you move into the tactical.


 


SOURCE: Richard J. Anthony, Sr., The Solutions Network, Inc. Radnor, PA.


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