Align HR practices with your objectives and keep your company competitiveA company's ability to grow and stay on top of customer demand has always depended heavily on the quality of its people. Now, more than ever, businesses recognize that finding (and keeping) a highly skilled and motivated workforce is pivotal to success. Maybe you're a business owner and your company is growing, or you're an employee at a small- to midsize-company and management has asked you to take on some--or all--of their HR functions. Either way, knowing how to set up and implement successful HR practices (not to mention navigating the legal minefields in today's increasingly regulated environment) can be tricky.Human Resources Kit For Dummies is your one-stop resource for learning the nuts and bolts of HR. It gives you forms and templates that you can put to immediate and productive use.* New information on anti-discrimination legislation; measuring performance; hiring, firing, and retaining employees; and training and development plans* The latest info on online and social media policies* Updated forms and contracts, from job application forms and sample employee policies to performance appraisals and benefit plan worksheetsIf you're currently working in Human Resources or are responsible for employees in your business, the tools presented here help you maximize the effectiveness of your own HR program.

Introduction 1Part I: Scoping Out the HR Role 7Chapter 1: The World of Human Resources 9Chapter 2: Setting the Stage: Key HR Trends 15Chapter 3: HR Technology Systems and Social Tools 23Part II: Putting the Right People in the Right Places 33Chapter 4: A Bird's-Eye View: Launching a Workforce Plan 35Chapter 5: Smart Start: Kicking Off the Hiring Process 55Chapter 6: You, the Talent Scout: Recruiting for Your Team 63Chapter 7: Narrowing Down the Field: Evaluating Applicants 85Chapter 8: One on One: Getting the Most out of Interviewing 105Chapter 9: The Home Stretch: Making the Final Decision 123Part III: Keeping Your Best People 143Chapter 10: Starting New Hires Off on the Right Foot 145Chapter 11: Ensuring a Competitive Compensation Structure 163Chapter 12: Creating the Right Benefi ts Package 183Chapter 13: Creating an Employee-Friendly Work Environment 209Part IV: Developing Your Employees 221Chapter 14: Back to School: Tying Training to Business Goals 223Chapter 15: Win-Win: Adding Value through Career Development 239Chapter 16: Assessing Employee Performance 261Part V: Law and Order 275Chapter 17: Navigating the Legal Minefi eld of Hiring and Managing 277Chapter 18: Handling Diffi cult Situations 293Part VI: The Part of Tens 319Chapter 19: Ten Keys to HR Success in the Future 321Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Become a Great HR Professional 327Chapter 21: Ten HR-Related Websites Worth Exploring 333Appendix: About the CD 337Index 347