HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

HRM - Essay Example It seems that appropriate HR practices need to be introduced for help the firm to stabilize its performance towards its rivals. The above problem is explored in this paper; HR tools and practices are suggested for the limitation of the firm’s HR challenges, as described above. It is concluded that strategies, like the HR audit and the HR benchmark could significantly help towards the limitation of the firm’s HR gaps. However, it would be necessary that these plans are appropriately monitored in all their phases; the hiring of employees and the training of existing staff should become indispensable elements of the firm’s HR strategy. 1. So far, GS Plumbing has not conducted a formal audit of the HR function. Why would this activity be useful and who should be involved? Through the case study it is made clear that GS Plumbing faces a series of HR management problems. Alan, as the firm’s HR manager has the responsibility for the appropriate handling of all re levant problems. As revealed through the case study, Alan is willing to develop the firm’s HR policies. However, delays occur in regard to the achievement of this target. These delays are partially related to the following fact: Alan has to work on administrative tasks that would be normally handled by other members of the staff – referring especially to Gail and Jane. ... At the same time, problems like increased absence from work, low employee performance (resulted to increased customer complaints), lack of appropriate training of new staff and luck of trust across the organization need to be appropriately addressed. A solution should be also identified in order to keep existing staff motivated – periodically employees leave the company for the competitors. The HR audit could help to identify all failures in gaps in the firm’s HR policies, helping the firm’s senior managers to understand how ‘HR policies could contribute to the organizational success’ (Mathis and Jackson 2008, 62). Moreover, it could help to locate a series of appropriate solutions. In accordance with Phillips (1996) the HR audit function can help to identify the effectiveness of the firm’s HR policies, reviewing all areas of HR function, including the hiring, training and remuneration processes and policies of the organization (Phillips 1996, 37). At this point, it should be noted that the requirements of HR audit, can be many, including legal, technical and managerial issues (Storey 2009). The HR audit in GS plumbing could be based on a survey. The use of alternative method of HR audit, such as the interviews could be also used (Phillips 1996, 37), in case that the firm’s technical staff would agree with this strategy. Alan would be the most appropriate person to develop the HR audit across the organization knowing well all details related to the firm’s operations but also the challenges that the firm has to face within its market. 2. Unplanned absence of employees is a particular issue at GS Plumbing. Develop a process to address this issue. Since the unplanned absence of