Setting up a HR department

Posted by Kara Bugden on October 24, 2017 at 2:08pm in Workplace Matters

Hello,

My company have asked me to look into starting up an official HR Department.

At the moment I manage the basics of HR including employee files, leave records, employee handbook etc. However, we are interested in taking it further and having more involvement with employees and the development of the company.

Does anyone have any tips or advice?

I'm proposing a step by step guide to setting up the department.

Thanks :)

Kara

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Replies

Nicola Rowe October 27, 2017 at 2:43pm

Hi Kara, I’m in Qatar and can help you with policies - much different to the UK! Our laws are similar and we also have an office in Dubai so I’m here if you want a chat!
Mike Collins October 25, 2017 at 12:14pm

Hello - great discussion - a similar project was raised a little while ago by Lauren Vasey

Some great thoughts and people sharing similar experiences so might be worth dropping those involve a connection request to find out they progressed.

Sarah shares a useful link in there that works - around creating the HR dept

Establishing the HR Function

Hope this helps and good luck!

Lauren vasey

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- Sarah Loates > Mike Collins October 25, 2017 at 12:35pm
  
  Thanks Mike I remembered that and tried to search for it but could not find the article! thnks for sharing!
  
  Sarah
Sarah Loates October 24, 2017 at 6:58pm

Hi Kara

Have a read of this article here may have some interesting ideas and insights, The first thing I would do is to ask the owners of the business for the strategy and then try to work out which elements of HR can contribute towards achieving this and how.

https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/toolkits/p...

Good Luck!

Sarah
- Kara Bugden > Sarah Loates October 25, 2017 at 11:57am
  
  Hi Sarah,
  
  Thank you for the response. Great advice as I was planning to do things differently.
  
  I can't access the link you've sent without paying to sign up to the website, is there anywhere else I can find the link?
  
  Kara
  - Sarah Loates > Kara Bugden October 25, 2017 at 12:35pm
    
    Oh no that is a shame and so strange last night I could view it without having to sign up? Let me investigate thanks Sarah
Chrissy Allen October 24, 2017 at 2:21pm

Hi Kara,

I was given a similar task a couple of years ago and I found that one of the most helpful things in building a competent HR dept. was training. The company sent me on the HRP Level 3 course (with DPG), which I have found really useful. We also retain SSG Training & Consultancy as HR advisors, and they have been incredibly helpful in advising on all things HR related, as well as providing templates for letters, health questionnaires, sickness monitoring records- all sorts, and doing annual audits of the HR system. The ACAS website is also a good place to get standard templates.

I've found that through training and being a member of the CIPD I've been able to attend events and meet people that/who have given me lots of ideas of things to incorporate into our HR practices.

I'd say that one important area to look into when setting up the dept. is legislation- data protection, working time regs etc. You should be up to speed with all of that, and have the right paperwork, policies and so on in place, in order for the dept. to support the company in it's legal obligations.

Good luck!

Best wishes, Chrissy
- Kara Bugden > Chrissy Allen October 25, 2017 at 11:55am
  
  Hi Chrissy,
  
  Thanks so much for the advise, good to know that other companies have been sending people to additional training.
  
  I'm based in Dubai so may not be able to get the same ones but I should be able to find something similar and hopefully persuade my company to send me!
  
  I have a HR event in a couple of week which could be promising.
  
  Thanks again,
  
  Kara