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BVP 01 – Human Resources: HR Manager

Hello my name is James. Today we’re kicking off a new series of podcasts based on
people talking about their jobs. In these episodes, we’ll learn vocabulary and
language that are useful across a wide range of different professions and industries.

If you’d like to try out the online activities and language practice for this podcast,
you can sign up for a free trial on the website: www.businessenglishpod.com.

In this podcast we’ll hear an HR manager, Greg, describe his work and
responsibilities. Afterwards, we’ll study some key vocabulary. In particular we’ll be
focusing on how words are collocated, or used together. Then we’ll practice what
we’ve learned.

When we think about human resource

managers, many of us just think of hiring and
firing, but actually, as Greg explains, the job
involves a lot more than that. HR handles
everything from job evaluations to settling
disagreements between workers and
management.

While you listen, try to answer the following

listening questions. The answers will be posted
in a few days on our website.

Listening Questions

1) What type of employment programs does Greg develop and manage?

2) Are there several HR managers or only one in Greg’s company?

3) Greg says that HR managers play a special role in companies that are unionized.
What is this role?

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Vocabulary

To manage the needs of someone: This usage of manage belongs to industry

jargon, that is, a way language or vocabulary is used within an industry by
specialists. What is meant here is something like serve: To assist all employees in
fulfilling their work-related needs. At the same time, there is a hint of another
meaning of manage, that is, to control: For example, HR managers are responsible
for both fulfilling and controlling employee needs to the benefit of the business. “To
create a successful business, it is essential to manage both employee and customer
needs.”

“Pretty much” As it’s used in the interview dialog, “pretty much” is a way of
agreeing. Depending on the intonation, it can be partial or complete disagreement.
“A: So you are done with your work. B: Pretty much. Just have a couple things to
wrap up, then I can leave.”

Compensation: Pay. “The compensation is very good at this company.”

Benefits: Things given to employees in non-cash compensation, like health

insurance, vacation time, etc. “When you’re looking at a job offer, don’t just
consider the amount of money but also the benefits.”

Equal opportunity initiatives: An initiative is a plan or a program, and often

collocates with verbs such as set up or promote. Equal opportunity refers to giving
equal chances to any job applicant or employee, regardless of sex, race or physical
challenge. “In accordance with our corporate social responsibility program we have
set up several important equal opportunity initiatives.”

To develop plans for: Develop plans is similar to something like make plans, but
develop sounds like a process that takes a lot of work, knowledge and effort. Let’s
listen to another example sentence. “We need to develop a different plan for every
possible outcome so that we will be prepared no matter what happens.”

To fill job openings: This refers to finding people to take open or vacant jobs. An
important HR function is, of course, the process of finding suitable people to fill
empty jobs. “With the economy going into a downturn, it’s getting easier and easier
to fill any job opening.”

To have an overview of sth: Having an overview of something literally refers to the

ability to see an entire object. When we’re talking about business, it means the
seeing the “big picture,” that is, having an understanding of the larger context and
how all the individual parts fit together. “Though it’s not necessary to grasp minor
details, any successful manager needs to have a good overview of all the activities
in his department.”

To be in charge of sth.: This means to be responsible for something. It’s a phrase

that is often used to describe job duties. As in Greg’s example, it can collocate with
areas. “As receptionist, Katie is in charge of greeting visitors.”

To oversee the operation of sth.: Oversee is another word for manage. Operation is
often used in business to describe all the activities in a department or unit. Let’s
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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

study another example phrase. “He oversees the whole operation of the call
center.”

To be knowledgeable about areas of: We can be knowledgeable about several, all,

or many areas of something, for example of business or of the industry that we
work in. Let’s listen to a couple more examples. “We’re encouraging our
researchers to become knowledgeable about all areas of product development so
that they can better communicate with each other.”

Highly qualified: This is a very widely used collocation to describe people who are
very expert in their field. We can also be qualified for something. “In my opinion,
his years of experience make Jim highly qualified for this job.”

To have/put regulations in place: Regulations are rules. We can have or put

regulations in place to do something, for example, to protect employees or the
environment. “There are many regulations in place to protect employees from
employers.”

To examine worker’s grievances: Grievance is something like complaint. In the

context of labor-management relations, it often implies workers were denied some
legal right. It shares the same root with to grieve which means to feel sad about a
loss. The hurt or aggrieved party (in this case, workers) usually seek some form of
compensation. HR managers must examine the grievances to see if there is any
merit or truth to them. “When an employee comes to me with a complaint, I am
careful to examine his grievance carefully no matter what the situation.”

To settle disagreements: Solve arguments. “Rather than getting lawyers involved,

we do our utmost to settle all disagreements here in-house.”

Varied: Containing many different elements mixed together. “There were varied
responses to the news that the CEO would be stepping down; some people were
optimistic, others pessimistic.”

Versatile: Able to perform many different functions or roles. The noun form is
versatility. “He is an extremely versatile employee – he can almost do anything.”
“This is a very versatile machine.”

Flexible: Able to adapt to or perform in a variety of situations. The noun form is

flexibility. “Flexibility is a highly desired characteristic in employees.”

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Dialog

Interviewer: So Greg, what does a human resource manager actually do?

Greg: Simply put, HR managers manage the needs of a company's employees.

Interviewer: That sounds pretty broad. What types of needs? Everything?

Greg: Pretty much. We develop and manage employment programs. This includes
salary compensation and job evaluations, benefits, promotions, equal opportunity
[initiatives]. Also education and training programs. And of course we develop
plans for finding applicants to fill job openings. Then we interview and, where
necessary, test applicants.

Interviewer: That’s a lot! How can one person possibly have an overview of so
many things?

Greg: Well, in large companies one human resources manager may be in charge
of each of these areas. However, in small or medium companies, like mine, the
human resources manager may oversee the human resources operation of the
entire business.

Interviewer: You must be pretty busy!

Greg: Yes. To be effective we need to be knowledgeable about all areas of

human resources as well as every aspect of the company. It takes a lot of
experience, and you have to be highly qualified. For example, there are many
state and European regulations in place to protect employees, and we must
know and follow these regulations.

Interviewer: I can imagine. It sounds quite challenging.

Greg: There’s more. In industries that are unionized, like mine, human resources
managers deal with relations between labor and upper management. We examine
workers' grievances and try to help settle disagreements.

Interviewer: Do you like your job? What’s the best part of it?

Greg: Yes. The best part is probably that the work is extremely interesting and
varied. We have to be very versatile and flexible...

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Debrief

Most learners of English feel that can recognize many more words than they can
use. Therefore it is important to activate our vocabulary, that is, to practice words
in ways that enable us to actually put them to work in real life situations.

One of the best ways to activate vocabulary items is to learn and practice them in
groups – adjectives together with nouns, nouns together with verbs, verbs together
with prepositions. These word partnerships are called collocations. Studying
collocations makes speaking natural and fluent.

We’re going to study the many useful collocations used to describe the role of an
HR manager. Some of the vocabulary may be familiar, but it’s still quite useful to
examine how the words are collocated, or used together.

We’ll play segments of Greg’s interview. After each part, we’ll pick out some useful
language and give you a definition followed by an example sentence or two.

Interviewer: So Greg, what does a human resource manager actually do?

Greg: Simply put, HR managers manage the needs of a company's employees.

1. To manage the needs of someone:

This usage of manage belongs to industry jargon - a way language or vocabulary is
used within an industry by specialists. What Greg means here is something like
serve: He needs to assist all employees in fulfilling their work-related needs. At the
same time, there is a hint of another meaning of manage, that is, to control: As an
HR manager, Greg is responsible for both fulfilling and controlling employee needs
to the benefit of the business.

 To create a successful business, it is essential to manage both employee and

customer needs.

What type of needs does Greg need to manage?

Greg: We develop and manage employment programs. This includes salary

compensation and job evaluations, benefits, promotions, equal opportunity
[initiatives].

Greg oversees a variety of employment programs, including compensation (that is,

pay), benefits (things like health insurance and vacation), and promotions (moving
employees up in the company).

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

2. Equal opportunity [initiatives]

Another special kind of activity he manages are equal opportunity initiatives. An
initiative is a plan or a program, and often collocates with verbs such as set up or
promote. Equal opportunity refers to giving equal chances to any job applicant or
employee, regardless of sex, race or physical challenge.

 In accordance with our corporate social responsibility program we have set up

several important equal opportunity initiatives.

Let’s get back to the dialog. What kind of work does Greg do in hiring new
employees?

Greg: …And of course we develop plans for finding applicants to fill job
openings. Then we interview and, where necessary, test applicants.

3. To develop plans for

Here develop plans is similar to something like make plans, but develop sounds like
a process that takes a lot of work, knowledge and effort. Let’s listen to another
example sentence.

 We need to develop a different plan for every possible outcome so that we will
be prepared no matter what happens.

4. To fill job openings

This refers to finding people to take open or vacant jobs. An important HR function
is, of course, the process of finding suitable people to fill empty jobs. Here’s
another sentence.

 With the economy going into a downturn, it’s getting easier and easier to fill any
job opening.

The interviewer is pretty impressed with the wide scope (that is broad range) of
Greg’s job, isn’t he?

Interviewer: That’s a lot! How can one person possibly have an overview of so
many things?

5. To have an overview of sth.

Having an overview of something refers to the ability to see an entire object. When
we’re talking about business, it means seeing the “big picture,” that is, having an
understanding of the larger context and how all the individual parts fit together.

 Though it’s not necessary to grasp minor details, any successful manager needs
to have a good overview of all the activities in his department.

How does Greg reply to the interviewer’s question?

Greg: Well, in large companies one human resources manager may be in charge
of each of these areas. However, in small or medium companies, like mine, the
human resources manager may oversee the human resources operation of the
entire business.

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

6. To be in charge of sth.
This means to be responsible for something. It’s a phrase that is often used to
describe job duties. As in Greg’s example, it can collocate with areas.

 As department manager, I’m in charge of many different areas.

 As receptionist, Katie is in charge of greeting visitors.

7. To oversee the operation of sth.

Oversee is another word for manage. Operation is often used in business to
describe all the activities in a department or unit. Let’s look at another example
phrase.

 He oversees the whole operation of the call center

 Shift supervisors need to oversee the operation of the assembly line.

The interviewer thinks that Greg must be very busy, and Greg agrees.

Greg: Yes. To be effective we need to be knowledgeable about all areas of

human resources as well as every aspect of the company.

8. To be knowledgeable about areas of

We can be knowledgeable about several, all, or many areas of something, for
example of business or of the industry we work in. Let’s listen to a couple more
examples.

 Because Cindy is very knowledgeable about many areas of the industry, she is
able to pick good stocks.
 We’re encouraging our researchers to become knowledgeable about all areas of
product development so that they can better communicate with each other.”

How does Greg continue to describe the qualifications that are needed for his job?

It takes a lot of experience, and you have to be highly qualified. For example,
there are many state and European regulations in place to protect employees,
and we must know and follow these regulations.

9. Highly qualified
This is a very widely used collocation to describe people who are very expert in
their field. We can also be qualified for something.

 In my opinion, his years of experience make Jim highly qualified for this job.

10. Regulations in place

Regulations are rules. We can have or put regulations in place to do something, for
example, to protect employees or the environment.

 State authorities have put several regulations in place to control the use of this
chemical.
 There are many regulations in place to protect employees from employers.

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Next Greg describes labor-management relations. Labor refers to workers. In

unionized industries, that is, in companies with unions, HR plays a special role.
What is it?

Greg: …In industries that are unionized, like mine, human resources managers deal
with relations between labor and upper management. We examine workers'
grievances and try to help settle disagreements.

11. To examine worker’s grievances

Grievance is something like complaint. In the context of labor-management
relations, it often implies workers were denied some legal right. It shares the same
root with to grieve which means to feel sad about a loss. The hurt or aggrieved
party (in this case, workers) usually seek some form of compensation. Greg says
that HR managers must examine the grievances to see if there is any merit or truth
in them.

 When an employee comes to me with a complaint, I am careful to examine his

grievance carefully no matter what the situation.

12. To settle disagreements

In addition to examining grievances, Greg says he has to settle or solve all sorts of
disagreements or arguments that arise in union-company relations. Even in
companies that don’t have a union, settling disagreements amongst employees and
between workers and management is an important function of HR.

 Rather than getting lawyers involved, we do our utmost to settle all

disagreements here in-house.
 It’s important not to let disagreements go unsettled.

How does the interview finish off? Greg describes what makes his job enjoyable for
him.

Interviewer: Do you like your job? What’s the best part of it?

Greg: Yes. The best part is probably that the work is extremely interesting and
varied. We have to be very versatile and flexible...

The adjectives versatile and flexible both describe the ability to deal with many
different job situations. In the study notes at available on the website, you’ll find
definitions of these and other expressions that we weren’t able to cover in today’s
episode.

Now let’s practice some of the vocabulary we’ve learned today. You’ll hear a series
of sentences. In each sentence, one word is blanked out with a beep. Repeat the
sentence but say the missing word. For example, if you hear:

“It’s important to <beep> labor-management disagreements,”

You’ll say, “It’s important to settle labor-management disagreements,” This is a

great way to revise collocations. Let’s give it a try.

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Cue 1: In accordance with our corporate social responsibility program we have set
up several important equal <beep> initiatives.
Learner 1:

Cue 2: With the economy going into a downturn, it’s getting easier and easier to
<beep> any job opening.
Learner 2:

Cue 3: In my opinion, his years of experience make Jim highly <beep> for this
job.
Learner 3:

Cue 4: State authorities have put several regulations in place to <beep> the use
of this chemical.
Learner 4:

Cue 5: When an employee comes to me with a complaint, I am careful to examine

his <beep> in detail no matter how unlikely they sounds.
Learner 5:

Cue 6: Rather than getting lawyers involved, we do our utmost to <beep> all
disagreements here in-house.
Learner 6:

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Answer 1: In accordance with our corporate social responsibility program we have

set up several important equal opportunity initiatives.
Answer 2: With the economy going into a downturn, it’s getting easier and easier
to fill any job opening.
Answer 3: In my opinion, his years of experience make Jim highly qualified for
this job.
Answer 4: State authorities have put several regulations in place to control the
use of this chemical.
Answer 5: When an employee comes to me with a complaint, I am careful to
examine his grievances in detail no matter how unlikely they sounds.
Answer 6: Rather than getting lawyers involved, we do our utmost to settle all
disagreements here in-house.

That’s all for this episode. By studying Greg’s interview about his job as a training
manager, we’ve covered a variety vocabulary and collocations for describing the
role of HR.

Remember to check out the study notes for this and other episodes at
www.businessenglishpod.com. There you’ll find complete transcripts – including
additional vocabulary explanations and language review exercises. You can also
sign up for the online learning center to access more great activities for extending
your vocabulary.

Thanks for listening.

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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Language Review
I. Collocations
Unscramble the sentences to review key collocations.

1) we initiatives have important up several equal opportunity set

2) ’s easier to easier opening fill any job getting and it

3) years of qualified make his Jim job highly for this experience

4) state place regulations have put in authorities to protect the environment

5) I employee careful to no examine what matter grievances am

6) settle we our here disagreements utmost to all in-house do

II. Useful Language

To review useful language covered in this episode, fill in the blanks with words from
the box. (If necessary change the tense of verbs to fit the context, i.e., to past or
future tense.)

manage outcome develop pick charge

overview unsettled knowledgeable grasp operation

1. To create a successful business, it is essential to both employee

and customer needs.
2. We need to a different plan for every possible so that we
will be prepared no matter what happens.
3. Though it’s not necessary to minor details, any successful manager
needs to have a good of all the activities in his department.
4. As department manager, I’m in of many different areas.
5. He oversees the whole of the call center
6. Because Cindy is very about many areas of the industry, she is
able to good stocks.
7. It’s important not to let disagreements go .

Study Strategy
When we study vocabulary, it’s not enough to learn single words. Instead we must
study words in context. For example, just knowing the word “criteria” won’t help us
do anything more than perhaps understanding it when we hear it. But if we know
“to set up standard criteria for doing sth.,” we can easily make sentences of our
own. That’s why studying word partnerships (collocations) is a crucial part of
making the transition from passive to active vocabulary.
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BVP 01: Hu man Resources: HR Ma nager

Answers

Listening Questions
1) Greg manages a wide variety of employment programs. Some that he mentions
are job evaluations, benefits, promotions, equal opportunity initiatives, and
filling job openings.
2) Because Greg works in a mid-sized company, he is the only senior HR manager.
(Larger companies usually have many HR managers responsible for different
areas of managing employee needs.)
3) He deals with relations between labor and upper management, examines worker
grievances, and settles disagreements.

I. Collocations
1. We have set up several important equal opportunity initiatives.
2. It’s getting easier and easier to fill any job opening.
3. His years of experience make Jim highly qualified for this job.
4. State authorities have put regulations in place to protect the environment.
5. I am careful to examine employee grievances no matter what.
6. We do our utmost to settle all disagreements here in-house.

II. Useful Language

1. To create a successful business, it is essential to manage both employee and
customer needs.
2. We need to develop a different plan for every possible outcome so that we will
be prepared no matter what happens.
3. Though it’s not necessary to grasp minor details, any successful manager needs
to have a good overview of all the activities in his department.
4. As department manager, I’m in charge of many different areas.
5. He oversees the whole operation of the call center
6. Because Cindy is very knowledgeable about many areas of the industry, she is
able to pick good stocks.
7. It’s important not to let disagreements go unsettled.

Links (click a link to open the exercise)

Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Listening Quiz
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Gap-fill Exercise
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Dialog & Vocabulary Definitions
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Collocations
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Useful Language
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Sentence Matching
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Vocabulary Review
Business Vocabulary – HR Manager – Flashcards

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