New

Published on:

December 22, 2025

Swipe Admin

Blog |

Explore GST

Basics of GST

Operative Functions of Human Resource Management Explained

Ever wondered how a company actually runs smoothly behind the scenes? That’s where Human Resource Management (HRM) comes in — it's not just about hiring people, but also focuses on shaping the entire employee experience.

In this blog, we will explore the operative functions of human resource management, the hands-on actions that keep an organization productive, happy, and compliant.

What Are Operative Functions in HRM?

Operative functions are the practical side of HRM, the daily activities that directly deal with employees.

While managerial functions plan and organize, operative functions execute those plans to make sure every team member performs their best.

These include:

Recruitment and Selection

Learning and Professional Growth

Salary and Employee Benefits

Employee Welfare

Performance Appraisal

Industrial Relations

Record Keeping

Let’s break each one down:

1. Recruitment and Selection

Recruitment is all about bringing in the right people and selection is about choosing those who fit in best for the company or an organization.

HR and talent acquisition teams post job openings, screen resumes, conduct interviews, and assess skills to understand if candidates match the company’s culture and goals or not if not they reconduct the same process all over again to screen another deserving candidate.

Simply put, hiring brings in talent, and selection helps pick the best match.

2. Training and Development

Training helps employees to improve their performance at current roles. On the other hand, development focuses on preparing them for future roles.

This function covers things like workshops, mentoring, and online learning sessions.

The result? The employees will be more capable and confident which are ready to take on new challenges.

3. Compensation and Benefits

Money isn’t everything, but fair pay does matter.

HR makes sure employees get fair salaries, bonuses, and rewards that match their performance.

This function also includes benefits such as:

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid leaves

Work flexibility-Hybrid or remote working, Flexible Hours etc

When compensation is fair, motivation and loyalty follow naturally.

4. Employee Welfare

Employee welfare is all about caring about the well-being and comfort of the staff.

This includes all the things which cover safety & hygiene measures, canteen facilities, medical support, and mental counseling programs.

When there is a supportive environment employees feel happy and worthy which boost their morale and productivity and then they simply perform better at work.

5. Employee Appraisal

Employee Appraisal is all about seeing how well employees are meeting their goals.

HR Team together with team leaders or managers organizes small feedback sessions every month or quarter to recognize the top performers to see who may need extra support, and help them find better opportunities easily for growth or promotions.

Common methods include:

Self-evaluation

360-degree feedback

KPI-based assessments

Appraisals aren’t just for judgment — they’re tools for growth and communication.

6. Industrial Relations

Smooth relations between management and employees are crucial. This function handles of HR deals with things like complaints, solving conflicts, and talking with unions to keep the workplace running smoothly.

A strong HR team encourages open dialogue and fair treatment to stop problems from becoming bigger issues.

7. Record Keeping

HR keeps track of important employee information — things like attendance, salary, benefits, and performance.

Maintaining proper records not only keeps the company compliant with labor laws but also makes it easier to make smart, data-driven decisions.

In today’s time, digital HR tools handle a lot of this work automatically, cutting down on mistakes and saving time.

‍Table: Overview of Operative HR Functions

Operative Function	Key Activities	Outcome
Recruitment & Selection	Job posting, interviews, onboarding	Qualified hires
Training & Development	Workshops, mentoring sessions	Skilled & confident employees
Compensation & Benefits	Salary, incentives,health insurance	Motivated employees
Employee Welfare	Health, safety, mental counseling	Higher internal satisfaction
Performance Appraisal	Reviews, feedback	Improved performance
Industrial Relations	Grievance handling	Workplace peace
Record Keeping	Documentation, compliance	Legal safety

Digital Tools Supporting Operative HR Functions

In today’s modern digital workspace, it does not matter whether it's about handling payroll, keeping track of attendance, or reviewing reports, these tools help save time, prevent mistakes, and let HR focus more on people than paperwork.

Let's have a quick look at some of the most popular HR tools that Indian companies are using today.

HR Software	Best For	Starting Price	Key Features
HROne	SMEs & Enterprises	₹4950/Month	AI-powered, Recruitment, Leave, Payroll, Analytics
Zoho People	SMEs & Enterprises	₹60/user/month	Attendance, Leave, Payroll, Performance
factoHR	Complete HR Solution	₹3999/month	HRMS, Payroll, Compliance, Analytics
greyHR	Small to Mid Business	₹3495/month	Payroll, Attendance, Leave, Compliance
Darwinbox	Enterprises	Custom Pricing	Recruitment, Core HR, Payroll, Analytics
ZingHR	Large Corporates	Custom Pricing	HRMS, Payroll, ESS, MIS Reports
BambooHR	Employee Experience	Custom Pricing	Hiring, Onboarding, Performance
Keka HR	Payroll Automation	₹699/month	Payroll, Taxation, Attendance, HRMS
sumHR	Startups & SMEs	₹49/user/month	Payroll, Attendance, Compliance
Spine HR Suite	Enterprise HRMS	Custom Pricing	Employee Life Cycle, Payroll, Statutory

Conclusion

The operative functions of human resource management form the heart of every successful organization. They make sure employees always feel appreciated, encouraged, cared for, and recognized — creating a workplace where people can grow and succeed together for the long run.

Whether you’re studying HR, working in this field or a business owner — understanding these functions helps you create a workplace where people feel motivated to grow and give their best.

FAQs

1. What does HR do on a daily basis?

These are the everyday things HR takes care of such as hiring new staff, training them, managing pay, and supporting employees as a part of everyday tasks.

2. How are HR’s daily tasks different from management duties?

Management duties are all about planning and making high level decisions, while HR takes care of the day-to-day work and helps employees directly.

3. Which operative function is most important?

All of them are connected, but hiring and training usually lay the foundation for everything else HR does.

4. How does HR make sure pay is fair?

HR looks at pay rates reviewing market data, checks how employees are performing, and follows company rules to make sure salaries remain fair inside the company and similar to what other companies offer for particular roles.