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 West Virginia (WV), as in other states, the human resources (HR) department plays a critical role in managing the employer-employee relationship. The HR department is responsible for a wide range of functions, including processing job applications, conducting job interviews, administering drug tests, making employment offers, and managing wages, benefits, and paid time off (PTO). Additionally, HR handles unpaid leave, employee reviews, termination of employment, and 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 only one person overseeing HR responsibilities, while larger organizations may have a team led by an HR manager or director. West Virginia state statutes and federal laws govern many aspects of HR activities, including but not limited to the West Virginia Human Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination; the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act, which outlines how and when employees must be paid; and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal law that provides eligible employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for certain family and medical reasons. Employers in WV must comply with these regulations to ensure proper management of HR functions and fair treatment of employees.