Introduction to Human Resource Management

Running head: INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Introduction to Human Resource Management
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Task 1: HR Functions in a Contemporary Business Environment..................................................2
Task 2: HR Planning In a Business Environment...........................................................................4
Task 3: Effective HR Practices and Performance Management in Organizations..........................6
Task 4: Influence of Employment Legislation on HR Practices in Organizations..........................8
Conclusion and Recommendations..................................................................................................9
References:....................................................................................................................................10

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INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Introduction:
The report aims at providing an overview into the functional human resource
management from the perspective of an interim human resource (HR) consultant for Sports
Direct (sportsdirect.com 2018). The company is one of the largest sports goods retailers of
United Kingdom and known for its affordable low pricing. However, in present times the
company has come under public scrutiny due to the implementation of inexcusable workplace
practices. The report however addresses four HR practices that can help the company in dealing
with its current issues. The first task in the report focuses on HR functions in a modern business
environment while the second task is a discussion on the planning undertaken by HR in a
business environment. The third task tries to provide an insight into the effective performance
management and HR practices of an organization. Through task four, the report discusses about
the the employee legislations influence on the HR practices.
Task 1: HR Functions in a Contemporary Business Environment
Most organizations are influenced by the modern business world for surviving in a
vibrant market environment that put forwards the need of an HR for effectively dealing with the
world business scenario. The HR at the same time also acts as dominant tool in the determination
of the success of the organization (Budhwar and Debrah, 2013). In fact, the human resource
department portrays an active role while determining the compliance with the labor laws,
maintenance of the employee records, training and hiring of the employees, determining
compensation, relational assistance and the handling of the performance issues. These functions
help the company in meeting the needs of the staffs.

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INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Sports Direct has been undergoing an increasing tension because of implementation of
various atrocious practices that has brought the company under the scrutiny of the enforcement
agencies of the government and the human rights group to ensure the practice of well being of
the employees within an organization. Sports Direct has been the leading sports retailer of UK
not only in terms of the revenue but also operating profit and in terms of owner of well-known
lifestyle, fashion and sports brand. Currently, the company faces two people management issues
in the form poor wages paid to the employees along with harassment and penalization of the
staffs who are unwell. Such issues often solved with the help of proactive HR management. The
HR has an upper hand in the management of the employee relations through resolution of
disputes. Thus, the functional HR department of Sports Direct can proactively deal with people
management issues through the adoption of the following functions (Aswathappa 2013):
Maintenance of the Proper Records: The functional HR department of Sports Direct
can act proactively through the maintenance of the records of employees (Sadiq et al. 2013). This
involves the records related to the expenses, income, purchases and business transactions. In
addition, the HR should also keep a tab on individual tax forms, business license, insurance
records and the inventory statistics.
Ensuring Labor Law Compliance: The most important duty of the human resource in
Sports Direct would be in ensuring that the business operations of the company are in agreement
with the labor laws (Armstrong and Taylor 2014). This involves the allotment of breaks to the
employees depending on the number of work hours in addition to mentioning work hours,
contract time of the employees and the suitable age for the recruitment.