HR Advisor
Career information and advice on being a HR Advisor

A HR Advisor develops, advises on and implements policies relating to the effective use of personnel within an organisation. Regardless of their size, businesses require HR Advisors to give guidance on areas such as working practices, recruitment, pay, conditions of employment and diversity.

Working to organisational objectives, you will need to facilitate the employment of staff with the balance of skills and experience required by the company and the role in question. Additionally, HR advisors are required to keep staff motivated to perform  and do so through training and development programs. A clear understanding of labour legislation and fair practice will need to be applied to contracts, conditions of employment, terminations and retrenchments. 

Your Functions May include

As a HR Advisor you need to create, implement and monitor staff policies which select, develop and retain the required staff, in so doing working towards the company's objectives. You will also develop the necessary framework that governs all staff. Typical activities may include:-

Recruitment 

• recruiting staff and developing job descriptions
• work with recruiters and job sites to ensure supploy fo staff, as required
• interview for postions and hire suitable applicants

Staff management

• advising on staff pay and work with payroll where required
• manage various remuneration issues, including promotion, benefits and tax
• interpreting and advising on employment legislation, legal right and issues
• handling staff grievances
• manage staff disciplinary procedures
• plan staff training and development

Company HR policy

• develop HR policy and strategy for deployment
• liaise with various departments to cover topics such as race relations, disability, gender, age, religion and health and safety
• create working policies on: work conditions, performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary procedures and absence management
• assisting line managers to understand and implement policies and procedures

In large organisations, you may specialise in one or two of these areas. In smaller companies you would usually deal with all aspects of these aspects.