Human Resources Management

Good human resource management (HRM) is essential to retaining staff and maintaining a high overall level of performance within a health organization. Effective HRM is one of the key building blocks of a comprehensive HRH strategy. A responsive human resource management system can help ensure that staff know what they are supposed to do, get timely feedback, feel valued and respected, and have opportunities to learn and grow on the job. Fragmented, politicized human resource management systems and lack of human resource managers are two common barriers to effective HRM.

MSH offers expertise in assessing HRM systems. Using the HRM Rapid Assessment Tool, MSH works with public- and private-sector organizations to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of their human resource management systems and develop a plan for making improvements. The results of these assessments are the basis for a program’s action plan; in the paragraph below, common actions to improve HRM are listed. Developing an action plan is a key step toward improving HRM by addressing priority issues:

• Working to retain staff
• Making the most of limited resources
• Making training a part of HRH
• Managing supplies

Actions you can take:

• Designate a senior manager to be in charge of HRM
• Provide training to HRM staff
• Develop on-the-job, skill-based training for health care staff
• Streamline the planning, recruitment and hiring process
• Strengthen supervision
• Consider redefining scopes of practice for health care staff
• Track employee data such as attrition, staff turnover, absenteeism
• Introduce HIV Workplace Prevention programs
• Develop and enforce HIV antidiscrimination policies
• Address inequities in staff workload, salaries, allowances
• Extend benefits program