A human resource of a company or organization is generally an employee, and the department that communicates with employees and manages employee-related issues—including job applications, job interviews, drug tests, employment offers, wages, benefits, paid time off (PTO), unpaid leave, employee reviews, termination of employment, and unemployment insurance claims—is often known as the human resources department, or human resources, or simply HR. An employer’s human resources department may consist of one person in a smaller organization or many persons in a larger organization, and is often headed by a human resources manager or human resources director.

In California, the human resources (HR) department of a company or organization plays a crucial role in managing the employer-employee relationship. This includes overseeing job applications, conducting job interviews, administering drug tests, making employment offers, and managing wages, benefits, paid time off (PTO), and unpaid leave. HR is also responsible for conducting employee reviews, handling termination of employment, and processing unemployment insurance claims. The size of an HR department can vary from a single individual in smaller organizations to multiple staff members in larger ones, typically led by an HR manager or director. California labor laws are comprehensive and provide specific guidelines that HR departments must follow, such as the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) which prohibits discrimination, and the California Labor Code which sets standards for wages, hours, and working conditions. HR departments must ensure compliance with both state statutes and federal laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), to protect the rights of employees and the interests of the employer.