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 Minnesota, the human resources (HR) department of a company or organization is responsible for managing a wide range of employee-related functions. These functions include handling job applications and interviews, administering drug tests, making employment offers, and managing wages, benefits, and paid time off (PTO). HR also oversees unpaid leave, conducts employee reviews, and handles the termination of employment. Additionally, HR departments in Minnesota are involved in managing unemployment insurance claims. The size and structure of an HR department can vary significantly, ranging from a single HR professional in smaller organizations to multiple staff members in larger ones, typically led by an HR manager or director. The activities of HR departments in Minnesota are subject to both state statutes and federal laws, including but not limited to the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the Minnesota Fair Labor Standards Act, and federal laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).