NAVIGATING HR

A compact, comprehensive guide to human resources administration in the business world.

In her nonfiction debut, Larocque-Patton draws on her 15-plus years as a human resources representative to offer a thorough guide to the many roles of HR in a workplace setting. These include recruitment, training, employee relations, ensuring a safe work environment and fair treatment for workers, as well as warnings and firings, when needed. Each chapter includes a general discussion of the topic at hand, and many have multiple “Story Time” sections in which the author relates specific examples from her extensive experience. There are also “HR Jail” stories, which take on a far more cautionary tone. In all cases, the book reminds readers that the subjects under discussion are often governed by local and federal legislation. On providing references, for instance, she informatively notes that “In some countries, there are laws that state a former employer can be liable for hindering someone from receiving an offer from another employer. This means you should tread lightly on giving negative references.” Likewise, she examines the delicate task of firing employees, including potential liabilities. Employee engagement surveys are also covered, as are exit interviews; regarding the latter, Larocque-Patton points out that people tend to be more honest “because they will never see you again.” In one of the book’s most entertaining and thought-provoking sections, the author runs through the many differences between employee generations, including baby boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and the youngest employees of Generation Z (“Want to contribute to the world, will not put in extra time at work as more important things to do…short attention span”). Over the course of the book, Larocque-Patton’s straightforward prose style offers easy reading and clear authority. Along the way, she insightfully urges readers to remember that employees are also customers and ambassadors, so treating them conscientiously will not only benefit them, but also one’s business, in multiple ways.

A concise but detailed overview of best practices for the many roles that HR departments play.