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 Massachusetts, the human resources (HR) department of a company is responsible for managing a wide range of employee-related matters. This includes overseeing the hiring process, which encompasses job postings, interviews, and drug testing in compliance with state laws such as the Massachusetts Fair Employment Practices Act. HR also handles the creation and delivery of employment offers, as well as the administration of wages, benefits, and paid time off (PTO), which must align with the Massachusetts Wage Act and the Earned Sick Time Law. Additionally, HR departments manage unpaid leave, which is subject to the Massachusetts Parental Leave Act and the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Employee performance reviews and the termination process are also under the purview of HR, with terminations needing to adhere to both state and federal employment laws to avoid wrongful termination claims. Finally, HR is involved in the process of unemployment insurance claims, which are governed by the Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance Law. The size and structure of an HR department can vary greatly depending on the size of the organization, with smaller companies sometimes having only one HR professional, while larger organizations may have an entire team led by an HR manager or director.