A Review of the Pivotal Role of HR in Business Management from the 1980s to the Present

摘要

Changes in societal values and workplace demographics have led to significant changes in US employment and employment laws over the past 30 years. Prior to the 1980s, "personnel" departments mainly were responsible for handing out applications, providing employees with insurance enrollment forms, and processing payroll. From the 1980s through the present, personnel departments evolved into "human resources," with that function becoming a strategic partner in a company's decision-making process. Human resources managers today are expected to develop strategic solutions to employment-related matters that affect an organization's ability to meet its productivity and performance goals while complying with the law and avoiding legal liability. The present-day HR manager is expected to identify and resolve workplace issues and to attract a diverse pool of applicants through effective recruitment. Over the past 30 years, HR's greatest challenge has been to help employees and employers function optimally in a sea of constant change.