Office Manager vs. Human Resources?

What are the duties of an office manager vs. Human Resources Director. It's sort of confusing to me. Like for instance, do employees report to the office manager or to human resources. Do the office manager sit in on monthly reviews or human resources director. Please help with this. Thanks

An office manager is a glorified secretary. I hate to put it so harshly, but the office manager has nothing at all to do with Human Resources. The office manager is there to arrange deliveries, pick-ups, coordinate office activities, send memos to the rest of the staff when notices are received from outside parties (like the building manager), make copies, order supplies, arrange cleaning staff, maintain office equipment, make coffee, etc.

Human Resources personnel ensures compliance with applicable federal and/or state laws, regulations, and/or agency rules, standards and guidelines, etc.
Coordinates program activities, services, and/or program implementation with private providers, other governmental entities, program users, etc.
Develops or modifies rules, policies, or standards, etc.
Manages one or more statewide or agency wide program(s). Determines program goals and objectives and/or chairs committees established to support the program.
Represents the state or the employing agency in lawsuits, grievances, and complaints.
Facilitates/Chairs work groups, teams, and/or meetings. Creates a positive environment, evaluates group processes, recommends solutions or alternatives, etc.
Supervises subordinate personnel including: hiring, determining workload and delegating assignments, training, monitoring and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary actions.
Performs employee relations functions and works pro-actively with managers and supervisors to develop strategies for the resolution of human resource problems such as inappropriate employee behavior and special performance issues, etc.
Make final judgment with responsibility for decision, including defending decision in any legal proceedings.
Reviews legislation to determine impact on the operation of an agency or the state. Gives recommendations regarding implementation of passed legislation.
Represents agency interests on key legislative issues, task forces, committees, etc., and/or draft legislation, find sponsors, propose amendments, etc.
Develops, evaluates, or reviews plans and criteria for a variety of projects and activities; assesses feasibility of proposals.
Develops and coordinates plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision, and expectations of agency or program; prepares and updates plans and priorities.

Human Resources staff are usually paid twice that of an office manager...

An office manager is the one people usually report to. Depending on the industry, the office manager supervises people, cuts checks, does bookkeeping, orders supplies, etc. Basically takes care of that specific office.

Human Resources usually takes care of setting up insurance for the employees, handles more serious employee issues like harassment, files taxes for the corporation, gets involved in 401K plans, etc. Human Resources takes care of the entire operation.

Think of Human Resources as the mama bear and the office manager as the older sister or brother you should listen to. I hope that makes sense! I've had too much coffee today....

the duties of office manager and human resources should be defined in black and white.

The function of the office manager is to maintain facilities. This person would be responsible for ordering supplies, making sure deliveries are made, organizing the cleaning people, deal with the landlord, arrange the landscaping, and maybe (if the company is big enough) would be in charge of the administrative staff.

A human resources director should be in charge of the recruiting and hiring of all new employees, provide all assistance and organization regarding all benefit packages, and handle employee relations.

However, in a lot of companies (mine included) the roles are not clearly defined. My company has a "Human Resources Manager" and an "Office Manager", but no one really knows what they do. If I have a question on benefits, I get confused as who to ask.

Some companies that have a Headquarters, or main office have a human resources department, then each individual branch office has an office manager. Sometimes this is a member of the technical staff who just oversees EVERYTHING! (but benefits!)

Every company has different job descriptions. Most of the time, the following overview would work:

Office Mgr:
-coordinates all clerical functions, depending on the size of the office - billing, receivables, phone coverage/reception, ordering and stocking office supplies, scheduling meetings and events, maintaining calendars for exec(s), handling travel requests, etc.

HR
-hiring, firing, layoffs
-payroll and benefits administration
-employee records
-training
-employee relations (problems, disciplinary actions, complaints)
-sometimes safety and/or risk management

Employees usually report to an immediate supervisor - they only report to HR if they are HR employees. HR would probably sit in on monthly reviews, esp. if that's a director-level role. Hope this helps.

Simply,

Office Manager manages the office and organizes people to do the work, and reviews how the work is being done

Human Resources Director directs the hiring, termination, and other issues dealing with employment.

Sometimes the office manager does wear the hat of HR Director, but never vica-versa

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