Overall, HR professionals are expected to experience significant job growth for the
foreseeable future. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects 7% job growth
for HR managers between now and 2028. This is much faster than average growth projections
for all jobs.
One of those specializations, payroll processing, offers salaries averaging $40,250
per year, according to employment experts at Robert Half.
| What do human resources specialist careers involve? |
Human resources functions can generally be divided into "generalist" and "specialist"
jobs. HR generalists often serve smaller companies and organizations by providing
a full range of HR operations, from recruiting and staffing to benefits, worker's
compensation and payroll administration. In larger organizations and in many virtual
or remote HR operations, HR specialists focus on a single work area or function such
as payroll. HR specialists have more technical responsibilities than those of the
generalist. |
| What are leading human resources specializations? |
Recruitment and placement, compensation and benefits, labor relations, and training
and development are among the leading specializations for HR professionals. Payroll
administration is a part of the compensation and benefits area. |
| What does payroll administration invole? |
Payroll administration specialists oversee the compensation process for the organizations
they serve. Their work may involve tracking time and attendance, issuing payments,
overseeing payroll-related concerns and issues and tax and regulatory compliance. |
| Is certification important for human resources specialists? |
Certification signals to employers, colleagues, and the HR community that a candidate
for employment takes the HR profession seriously. Credentials such as the Human Resource
Certification Institute (HCRI’s) Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certificate
indicate that a professional has undergone an organized study program and exhibited
excellence on a professionally-prepared exam. |
| Introduction to human resources |
Learn about opportunities in the HR field and the skills you will need for success. |
Learn how to create compelling vision and mission statements, policies, and metrics
grounded in business strategy. |
| Recruiting and hiring employees |
Understand how to write a job ad that will attract candidates, effectively review
résumés, properly prepare for an interview, and formally make a job offer. |
Learn the basics of training, including the design, development, implementation, analysis,
and evaluation of training programs. |
| Compensation and benefits |
Understand all the things that must be considered when designing a compensation and
benefits package. |
| Employee health and safety |
Learn the ins and outs of complying with OSHA, protecting against workplace hazards,
and investigating, recording, and preventing accidents and employee illnesses. |
Gain knowledge of employment law as well as an understanding of equal employment opportunity,
avoiding discrimination, and what happens when an employee files an EEOC claim. |
Learn how to make decisions based on various company growth strategies and how to
use HRIS Software as well as job analysis as a tool for decision-making. |
Learn the full spectrum of affirmative action, how to create an affirmative action
plan, and information on the AAP you will need to know. |
Understand what diversity is and why it is a good thing in an organization as you
learn to manage it and handle conflict. |
| Employee rights and discipline |
Learn the laws that protect employee rights and privacy and how to monitor and document
behavior and discipline employees properly. |
Understand the alternatives to firing as well as how to prepare for termination including
proper separation agreements as well as what to do in the event of wrongful discharge. |
Learn why it is so important to investigate problems as well as the steps of an effective
investigation including preparing, conducting, and wrapping it up. |
Get a quick overview of the history of unions as you learn how they work and why employees
join them. |
| Creating a high-performance workplace |
Learn how to ask employees for input and act on it, delegate authority, keep communication
open, and continuously ask for feedback as you strive to develop a high-performance
workplace. |
Understand the basics of staffing strategy, cultural differences, HR in other countries,
choosing global employees, and issues faced by expatriates. |
Learn the top reasons employees leave a company and how you can encourage them to
stay as well as the importance of succession planning. |
| Motivation, rewards, and recognition |
Find out fun ways to motivate workers and gain nine strategies for creating a great
rewards program. |
| Preparing for the PHR exam |
Gain information on externships and internships as you review the basics of the PHR
exam and begin to study. |
| Introduction to the fair labor standards act (FLSA) |
|
History, amendments and coverage provided by the FLSA; overview of jurisdictions,
audits and penalties when not abiding by FLSA guidance
|
| Classification fo workers |
How employees are categorized and protected under the FLSA |
Understanding the differences between exempt/nonexempt employees and how they are
compensated |
Overview of the Rule of Constructive Receipt; calculating minimum wage, pay deductions,
hours worked and overtime |
| Specialized payrolls, employees, or regulations |
Regulations effecting public sector and hospital employees; Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act (WARN), Davis-Bacon Act, Walsh-Healey Act McNamara-O'Hara
Service |
Relevant areas of law; state listings |
Definition of federal taxation; EIN and Form SS-4, FICA taxes and Federal Unemployment
Tax Act (FUTA) |
Types of taxes, including multi-state taxation; state tax chart |
| Employee withholding allowance certificate (FORM W-4) |
Basic requirements and withholding allowances |
Types of compensation and payroll periods; state requirements for supplemental wages |
Completing employer's quarterly federal tax return (Form 941) and Form 941-X |
| Fringe benefits: deferred compensation |
Overview of fringe benefits, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) tax sheltered annuities
and Section 457 plans |
| Fringe benefits: tax preferred compensation |
Overview of tax preferred benefits, including Section 125 Plans (cafeteria plans),
Section 129 Plans and flexible spending accounts (FSA) |
| Fringe benefits: other benefits |
Overview of additional benefits, including adoption and educational assistance, relocation
expenses and stock options |
| Frigne benefits: health, life, accident, and sick pay benefits |
Overview of insurance benefits, including healthcare, life insurance, and workers'
compensation |
Handling payroll for noncitizen employees, including expatriates, resident aliens
and nonresident aliens; IRC Section 911 |
|
Understanding how garnishment factors into employee compensation; types of garnishments,
including child support withholding, medical support orders, tax levies, and bankruptcies
|
| Year-end and year beginning |
Verifying employee names and social security numbers; preparing and filing Year-End
tax forms |
Payroll systems, controls, and direct deposits; dealing with the IRS |
| Managing the payroll department |
|
Best practices and procedures for administering a payroll department and managing
payroll staff;auditing for fraud and disaster recovery
|
Anna Smith has worked in the field of human resources for 30 years and has taught
at the university level for over 20 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in business
administration from Spalding University, a master's degree in management from Webster
University, and a Master Online Teaching certificate from the University of Illinois.
She is also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources and a SHRM Senior Certified
Professional. Her experience spans many areas of human resources, including recruitment,
labor relations, and affirmative action plans.
Helene K. Liatsos is a business advisor and QuickBooks Certified Advisor with more
than 25 years of experience. She consults for a range of companies, from travel agencies
to startups. The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded her company Home Office
Management Experts the 2004 Home-Based Business of the Year. Helene holds a Bachelor
of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
This course is 100% online. Start anytime.
The Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) encourages HR job seekers to consider
the precise skills their ideal careers involve, then pursue specializations within
the HR field.
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