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 Pennsylvania (PA), the human resources (HR) department of a company or organization is responsible for managing a wide range of employee-related issues. This includes overseeing the hiring process, which encompasses job applications, 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. Additionally, HR is involved in the administration of unemployment insurance claims. The size and structure of an HR department can vary greatly depending on the size of the organization, with smaller companies possibly having a single HR professional, while larger organizations may have a team led by an HR manager or director. Pennsylvania state statutes and federal laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), provide a framework for HR operations, ensuring that employment practices comply with regulations regarding labor standards, discrimination, and employee rights.