Tamika Kerr
As it is HR season on the 4Talent website, I though I’ll join in. I’m new to this. Here I go. I can’t promise this will be good.
I am part of a small team of people called HR (Human Resources). Lots of people get confused with what we actually do and we have a reputation for hiring, firing people and delivering bad news which is true to a certain extent but we do so much more.
HR is made up of several parts – Internal communication, Reward and Benefits, HR administration and payroll, recruitment and the list goes on.
I’m trying to think of the best way of describing what I do. Many people think I sit down all day and push papers around the desk (Yes, this has been said to me on several occasions), which is only partly correct but there are many others things that I actually do which is classed as work.
Often times, I am the help desk for the HR and can answer questions relating to about 80% of queries. I get asked questions about payroll, how to use certain systems, where to find documents and forms and everything else you think of.
I help to process payroll each month and the answer to your question is “No, I don’t give myself a pay increase or bonus each month and No, I can’t give you a pay increase”. Its surprising that after all my years working in payroll I still get asked this question.
On a serious note, I do deal with all things payroll and HR administration related. However, I also liaise with all maternity ladies (there are quite a few), before, during and after their leave. I look after parts of the oracle system which affects different things that you use i.e. The appraisal system, expenses and sprinter.
My job involves me having a lot of patience and putting things in order and also the lovely job of filing pieces of papers. I hate to have papers around me as if you leave them overnight, I am convinced they multiple by the next morning, it doubles in size.
My role has a great advantage to it as I have a generalist role. At one time or another, I get involved in every project so I don’t specialise in any one particular area. This just adds to my skills and explains why I am often a help desk for HR.
Dealing with so much information including payroll means that a high level of confidentiality is needed as you can imagine.
HR may not be at the front of any company but we are a support function which supports each and every company in many projects.
Wish I could tell you how happy I am for you