Human Resources Professional with Payroll Practice and Management

What Do Human Resource Specialist Careers Involve?

Human resources functions can generally be divided into "generalist" and "specialist" jobs. HR generalists often serve smaller companies and organizations by providing a full range of HR operations, from recruiting and staffing to benefits, worker's compensation and payroll administration. In larger organizations and in many virtual or remote HR operations, HR specialists focus on a single work area or function such as payroll. HR specialists have more technical responsibilities than those of the generalist.

What Are the Leading Human Resources Specializations?

Recruitment and placement, compensation and benefits, labor relations, and training and development are among the leading specializations for HR professionals. Payroll administration is a part of the compensation and benefits area.

What Does Payroll Administration Involve?

Payroll administration specialists oversee the compensation process for the organizations they serve. Their work may involve tracking time and attendance, issuing payments, overseeing payroll-related concerns and issues and tax and regulatory compliance.

Is Certification Important for Human Resources Specialists?

Certification signals to employers, colleagues, and the HR community that a candidate for employment takes the HR profession seriously. Credentials such as the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI’s) Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certificate indicate that a professional has undergone an organized study program and exhibited excellence on a professionally-prepared exam.

Human Resources Professional

• Prepare to take and pass the PHR Certification Exam
• Attain a broad overview of human resources practices
• Acquire skills for handling recruitment, performance appraisals, and training processes
• Learn to practice strategic decision making for compensation and job evaluation
• Understand relevant U.S. laws and regulations regarding employment practices
• Understand OSHA rules governing employee health and safety
• Know strategies for implementing retention initiatives

Payroll Practice and Management

• Master the mathematics and formulas for calculating wages and taxes
• Learn the benefits and compensation programs commonly offered by employers
• Understand the regulations governing payroll practices, including the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Internal Revenue Code

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There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, HRCI requires that you meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for the PHR certification exam:

• Master’s degree or higher = 1 year of work experience in a professional level HR role
• Bachelor’s degree = 2 years of work experience in a professional level HR role
• Anything less than a bachelor’s degree = 4 years of work experience in a professional level HR role

Human Resources Professional

INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCES
Learn about opportunities in the HR field and the skills you will need for success.   

HR’S ROLE IN STRATEGY
Learn how to create compelling vision and mission statements, policies, and metrics grounded in business strategy.  

RECRUITING AND HIRING EMPLOYEES
Understand how to write a job ad that will attract candidates, effectively review résumés, properly prepare for an interview, and formally make a job offer.

TRAINING PROGRAMS
Learn the basics of training, including the design, development, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of training programs.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Understand all the things that must be considered when designing a compensation and benefits package. 

EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Learn the ins and outs of complying with OSHA, protecting against workplace hazards, and investigating, recording, and preventing accidents and employee illnesses. 

THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
Gain knowledge of employment law as well as an understanding of equal employment opportunity, avoiding discrimination, and what happens when an employee files an EEOC claim. 

MAKING HR DECISIONS
Learn how to make decisions based on various company growth strategies and how to use HRIS Software as well as job analysis as a tool for decision-making.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Learn the full spectrum of affirmative action, how to create an affirmative action plan, and information on the AAP you will need to know.

DIVERSITY
Understand what diversity is and why it is a good thing in an organization as you learn to manage it and handle conflict.

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND DISCIPLINE
Learn the laws that protect employee rights and privacy and how to monitor and document behavior and discipline employees properly.

TERMINATION
Understand the alternatives to firing as well as how to prepare for termination including proper separation agreements as well as what to do in the event of wrongful discharge.

INVESTIGATIONS
Learn why it is so important to investigate problems as well as the steps of an effective investigation including preparing, conducting, and wrapping it up.

MANAGING LABOR RELATIONS
Get a quick overview of the history of unions as you learn how they work and why employees join them.

CREATING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE WORKPLACE
Learn how to ask employees for input and act on it, delegate authority, keep communication open, and continuously ask for feedback as you strive to develop a high-performance workplace.

GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCES
Understand the basics of staffing strategy, cultural differences, HR in other countries, choosing global employees, and issues faced by expatriates.

RETENTION
Learn the top reasons employees leave a company and how you can encourage them to stay as well as the importance of succession planning. 

MOTIVATION, REWARDS, AND RECOGNITION
Find out fun ways to motivate workers and gain nine strategies for creating a great rewards program.

PREPARING FOR THE PHR EXAM
Gain information on externships and internships as you review the basics of the PHR exam and begin to study.

Payroll and Practice Management

INTRODUCTION TO THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA)
History, amendments and coverage provided by the FLSA; overview of jurisdictions, audits and penalties when not abiding by FLSA guidance

CLASSIFICATION OF WORKERS
How employees are categorized and protected under the FLSA

WHITE COLLAR EXEMPTIONS
Understanding the differences between exempt/nonexempt employees and how they are compensated

CALCULATING GROSS PAY
Overview of the Rule of Constructive Receipt; calculating minimum wage, pay deductions, hours worked and overtime

SPECIALIZED PAYROLLS, EMPLOYEES, OR REGULATIONS
Regulations effecting public sector and hospital employees; Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), Davis-Bacon Act, Walsh-Healey Act McNamara-O'Hara Service

STATE WAGE AND HOUR LAW
Relevant areas of law; state listings

FEDERAL INCOME TAX
Definition of federal taxation; EIN and Form SS-4, FICA taxes and Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA)

STATE TAXES
Types of taxes, including multi-state taxation; state tax chart

EMPLOYEE WITHHOLDING ALLOWANCE CERTIFICATE (FORM W-4)
Basic requirements and withholding allowances

WAGES AND COMPENSATION
Types of compensation and payroll periods; state requirements for supplemental wages

WAGE AND TAX REPORTS
Completing employer's quarterly federal tax return (Form 941) and Form 941-X

FRINGE BENEFITS: DEFERRED COMPENSATION
Overview of fringe benefits, including 401(k) plans, 403(b) tax sheltered annuities and Section 457 plans

FRINGE BENEFITS: TAX PREFERRED COMPENSATION
Overview of tax preferred benefits, including Section 125 Plans (cafeteria plans), Section 129 Plans and flexible spending accounts (FSA)

FRINGE BENEFITS: OTHER BENEFITS
Overview of additional benefits, including adoption and educational assistance, relocation expenses and stock options

FRINGE BENEFITS: HEALTH, LIFE, ACCIDENT, AND SICK PAY BENEFITS
Overview of insurance benefits, including healthcare, life insurance, and workers' compensation

INTERNATIONAL PAYROLLS
Handling payroll for noncitizen employees, including expatriates, resident aliens and nonresident aliens; IRC Section 911

GARNISHMENTS (71)
Understanding how garnishment factors into employee compensation; types of garnishments, including child support withholding, medical support orders, tax levies, and bankruptcies

YEAR-END AND YEAR BEGINNING
Verifying employee names and social security numbers; preparing and filing Year-End tax forms

PAYROLL ADMINISTRATION
Payroll systems, controls, and direct deposits; dealing with the IRS

MANAGING THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT
Best practices and procedures for administering a payroll department and managing payroll staff; auditing for fraud and disaster recovery

Anna Smith
Anna Smith has worked in the field of human resources for 30 years and has taught at the university level for over 20 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Spalding University, a master's degree in management from Webster University, and a Master Online Teaching certificate from the University of Illinois. She is also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional. Her experience spans many areas of human resources, including recruitment, labor relations, and affirmative action plans.

Helene K. Liatsos
Helene K. Liatsos is a business advisor and QuickBooks Certified Advisor with more than 25 years of experience. She consults for a range of companies, from travel agencies to startups. The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded her company Home Office Management Experts the 2004 Home-Based Business of the Year. Helene holds a Bachelor of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

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