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 New Jersey, 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; handling employment offers and negotiating terms of employment such as wages and benefits; managing paid time off (PTO) and unpaid leave; conducting employee reviews; and dealing with the termination of employment. HR departments also assist with unemployment insurance claims. The size and structure of an HR department can vary greatly depending on the size of the organization, with smaller companies sometimes having just one person overseeing HR functions, while larger organizations may have a team led by an HR manager or director. New Jersey state statutes and federal laws regulate many aspects of HR activities, including but not limited to, anti-discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, family and medical leave laws, and workplace safety regulations.