Office Manager vs. Human Resources?

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 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!)

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

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.