Human Resources Managment Review

HR has become one of the most widely studied facet of operating a business. I found this class very important and eye-opening. As a small business owner, this class has helped me to shape my own strategies and has given weight to specific topics. Online courses are somewhat challenging for myself. I find it hard to devote time spread out over several days to a course. I have always been a "sit down and finish it" kind of guy. Because of this, the discussions section of this course was particularly hard for me to accommodate. I do feel that the information shared among students was very interesting aspect of the course. To be able to speak with my classmates about their own personal experiences with this institutional topics helped to bring a realistic aspect to how they affect the work place.

I would say my biggest take away from this course was the final exam. This final helped me search for a full understanding of how to put the pieces together and create a holistic HR plan for a company. This is a procedure I will most certainly have to do again, in the field, and appreciated that I was able to get the practice. I also enjoyed the action research projects. I learned a vast amount of information about my specific project as well as those of others. I was nice to read some different perspectives on HR and what other students found important.

The Labor-Management Relationship

The age old topic of management and labor has been one of great debate. Unions which once dominated the manufacturing industry are now banded together or non-existent. The industrial revolution birthed the need for organized representation of labor and showed management why and how they should treat employees well. This topic has always been of personal interest for me since companies can only succeed if they have competitive and productive businesses. As for the topic of labor, this is imperative. Treating your employees well always seems to benefit the employer with better efficiency, a friendly work environment, or a collective goal. This topic is very emotional for many out of work factory men and women who have been laid-off for one reason or another.

The future of this relationship is one still very unclear. modern trends show that labor unions are not as popular as they once were. Employers are becoming more realistic is providing benefits and regulations to employees which is very beneficial to the working environment. However, there is typically a standoff-ish rivalry that tends to happen between management and labor. The most important thing for companies to encourage is collaboration between labor and management. When everyone can get on the same page, tensions drop and everyone can get down to business, literally. In an article I read HERE there is a great example of this idea in the last paragraph. Check it out.