Human Resources: Training, Administration, and Equality
Human Resources Training
Employee training enables company personnel to adapt to changes in society and technological advances. Companies should provide training relevant to the tasks performed within them, depending on their goals and plans. Training not only prepares individuals for the labor market but also allows the company to adapt and implement changes for better results. Training can be conducted internally, especially within larger companies.
A good training program involves a dedicated person in charge.
One of the newer forms of training is electronic education (e-learning). This can be defined as the delivery of educational material via electronic means, such as the internet, audio, video, etc. E-learning presents advantages and disadvantages related to time, cost, comfort, and potential issues like slower progress, dropouts, and lack of adaptability.
Staff Administration
This function consists of the legal and administrative procedures related to company staff. It includes:
- Contract selection
- Processing of payroll and social security
- Control of workers’ rights and duties: vacations, permits, etc.
Labor Relations
These are activities that connect companies with employees, either directly or through their representatives (delegates or committees). Their function is to address working conditions, collective agreements, and potential labor disputes.
Occupational Health
This area aims to optimize working conditions to protect the health and safety of workers. Several actions should be considered:
- Employers: Must prevent and avoid risks. They are responsible for company health and safety regulations.
- Workers: Must look after their own safety and health, properly use machines and tools, and report any errors to superiors.
- Manufacturers and Importers: Must correctly inform users about their products so they can be used safely.
- Public Administration: The Ministry of Labor, along with other bodies, develops actions to prevent accidents and occupational diseases.
Staff Control
The Human Resources department controls activities and analyzes results to identify potential failures. Control includes aspects like worker absenteeism, overtime, labor relations, and training.
Equality Law
According to the Spanish Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law. Therefore, there should be no discrimination based on birth, gender, race, or religion.
Recognition of equal work is fundamental. However, despite significant progress, inequalities persist, such as:
- Wage discrimination
- Discrimination in pensions
- Higher unemployment rates for women
- Lack of women in positions of power in politics or economics
- Generic discrimination: against immigrants, disabled individuals, youth, and the elderly.
The Equality Law of 2007 (Law on Effective Equality between Men and Women) was enacted to guarantee greater equality for women (as a historically disadvantaged group) in labor, politics, and family life. To implement the concept of equality, the law promotes:
- More balanced distribution of family responsibilities.
- Equal treatment regardless of nationality.
- Addressing disadvantages faced by women, including verbal or physical abuse.
- Setting standards to allow for parity between the sexes in societal institutions.
- Balanced presence of women and men in company leadership.
The principle of equality will be the cornerstone of programs promoting equality between men and women in the workplace, aiming to remove barriers that still prevent women from achieving full equality. This includes working towards political diversity.