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What is the difference between Human Resources ( H R), HR Specialist & HR Generalist ?

Generalist = Jack of all trades.

Specialist = Focused as laser light.   

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Question added by Augustine G Gill , Business Development Director , HASHMANIS GROUP OF HOSPITALS KARACHI
Date Posted: 2016/10/30
Anil Lalwani
by Anil Lalwani , Chief Accountant , Al Ahli Hospital

Many thanks for inviting & Happy Diwali

 

Human resources (HR) is the company department charged with finding, screening, recruiting and training job applicants, as well as administering employee-benefit programs. As companies reorganize to gain competitive edge, human resources plays a key role in helping companies deal with a fast-changing environment and the greater demand for quality employees

 

A human resources specialist is responsible for a specific type of human resources work in an organization. These specialists are far more common in large companies than in small ones, and also frequently work in HR consulting firms, such as Aon Hewitt or Deloitte Consulting. A human resources specialist’s work depends upon the specialty, though there is often some amount of overlap.

 

A human resources (HR) generalist is an employee in the HR department who handles a wide variety of HR responsibilities. While large companies often have bigger, more specialized HR teams, smaller companies only employ a few generalists. HR generalists are often responsible for both compliance -oriented and strategic duties. Compliance-oriented tasks include keeping track of and reporting on employee documentation, administering benefits and payroll and providing employee services and training. Strategic duties may include tasks such as recruiting new staff, managing performance reviews and handling organizational development and succession planning.

 

 

Human Resource Generalist:-

HR generalists have a broad spectrum of responsibilities that will require you to draw upon everything you learned in your master’s in human resources program. As its name suggests, duties are comprehensive and diverse and  includes:

  • #Staffing and recruitment
  • #Employee training and development
  • #Compensation and benefits
  • #Personnel policies and procedures
  • #Employee relations
  • #Workplace safety and security

 

Human Resource Specialist:-

Large organizations require specialists with skills in specific areas of human resource management.

It Includes:

  • #Workforce planning and employment specialist
  • #HR development specialist
  • #Total rewards specialist
  • #Employee and labor relations specialist
  • #Risk management specialist
  • #Metrics management specialist
  • #Human resource information systems specialist
  • #Global human resources specialist
  • #Organizational development specialist

 

If someone like the idea of becoming an expert in a certain area, a position as a human resource specialist is ideal.

 

These jobs require tremendous attention to detail, and you’ll be viewed as an authority in a particular field.

 

Sattar Abdulkarim  Mohamed
by Sattar Abdulkarim Mohamed , Country Sales Director , Ideal Technical Solutions

Thanks for the invitation. Our colleague, Mr. Anil Lalwani's answer was quite enough to cover the difference between HR Specialist and HR Generalist. I have not had a further information more than what he confirmed in his detailed answer.

Human resources specialists recruit, screen, interview, and place workers. They often handle other human resources work, such as those related to employee relations, compensation and benefits, and training.

 

Generalist does not take part in recruitment process.  Sometimes, does not take part in training and followup also.  Usually, everything involving payroll and statuary benefits .

 

Thanks for inviting.

Thank you for the A2A

Human resources professionals generally take one of two career paths: specialist or generalist. As the term implies, the human resources specialist develops expertise in a specific HR discipline. The generalist, on the other hand, is the HR Jack of all trades. In many organizations, the generalist is the first point of contact for employees and managers for all HR related issues.

 

Human resources specialties might include any HR-related need identified by the company. Most common specialties are recruiting and staffing, benefits design and administration, compensation, training, payroll and human resources information systems, or HRIS. People who enjoy focusing on a specific area of knowledge are well suited to the specialist role. The job is usually more routine, with well defined goals and time frames. Specialists create and administer benefits and other systems that support the business by ensuring the benefits and opportunities the company provides are competitive in the market. These offerings make it easier to attract and retain the best talent.

Generalist

Human resources generalists may have expertise in one or more specialty areas of HR, but are generally proficient enough in each area to provide sound advice and direction to employees and managers. HR generalists work closely with their specialist co-workers to ensure the information and programs they are providing to their employees are accurate and complete. The generalist role is less routine than that of the specialist. Because they deal directly with employees, the issues generalists face are as varied as the individuals they serve. The generalist does everything from explaining benefits and compensation to delivering training to mediating disagreements between workers. Individuals who like variety in their work and can quickly switch focus from one project or issue to another are well suited to the generalist role.

Ali Yakub Seesi Rutherfod
by Ali Yakub Seesi Rutherfod , Deputy DIRECTOR Director of Education , Head of Department of Social Science , St. Jerome Snr High School

Thanks for the invite. I agree with Mr. Lawani's answer

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