The correct spelling of the term "human resources" is often debated due to its compound nature. The first word, "human," is pronounced with a long "u" sound (/ˈhjuːmən/), while the second word, "resources," is pronounced with a short "u" sound (/rɪˈzɔːsɪz/). Together, they form a single phrase commonly used to describe the management of an organization’s workforce. Despite its spelling challenges, the term remains widely used and vital to understanding the field of human resource management.
Human resources (HR), as a term, refers to the collection of individuals within an organization who are responsible for managing and coordinating the workforce. It is both a field of study and a function within an organization. Human resources professionals, also known as HR professionals or HR specialists, are responsible for a variety of tasks related to personnel management and employee relations.
As a field of study, human resources encompasses the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage employees, including areas such as recruitment, selection, training, retention, compensation, performance management, and organizational development. It involves understanding and implementing policies and practices that ensure the right people are in the right roles, with the ultimate goal of achieving organizational success and employee satisfaction.
As a function within an organization, human resources refers to the department or team responsible for the management and administration of the workforce. This includes activities such as recruitment and selection, onboarding, training and development, performance evaluation, employee relations, benefits administration, and compliance with employment laws and regulations.
In summary, human resources is both a field of study and a critical function within organizations. It involves the strategic management and coordination of all aspects related to the workforce, with the aim of optimizing employee performance, well-being, and overall organizational effectiveness.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The term "Human Resources" originated in the early 20th century and has its roots in the field of industrial relations. It emerged as a replacement for the older term "Personnel Management". However, the concept of managing human labor goes back much further.
The word "human" comes from the Latin word "humanus", which means "of man". It is derived from the word "homo" meaning "man" or "human being". "Resources" refers to anything that can be used or drawn upon to attain a particular end. Together, "Human Resources" therefore refers to the group of people or individuals within an organization who contribute their skills, knowledge, and efforts towards achieving the goals and objectives of that organization.
In the early 1900s, the industrial revolution brought about significant changes in the nature of work and employment relationships. Organizations started recognizing the importance of managing their workforce more systematically.