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15 HR Books for HR Professionals Looking to Grow Their Career

In an era where employee experiences are just as crucial as customer experiences, human resource professionals must always be at the top of their game. 

If you’ve chosen a career in human resource management (HRM), you must constantly upskill to stay relevant and add value to the business. As the race to hire and retain the best talent intensifies, business leaders must learn and set the right KPIs for HR teams that align with the organization’s strategic goals.

We’ve curated a list of the 15 best HR books for HR professionals like you who want to grow at work. These HR books blend the wisdom of seasoned veterans and insights into the latest industry trends impacting talent management.

Let’s dive in!

15 HR Books for HR Professionals Looking to Grow Their Career
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Top 15 HR Books for Human Resources Professionals

1. Human Resource Management by Gary Dessler

Human Resource Management by Gary Dessler
Gary Dessler’s guide stands tall among HR books
via Amazon
  • Author: Gary Dessler
  • No. of pages: 720
  • Year published: 1994
  • Estimated reading time: 12-15 hours
  • Ideal for: HR professionals across all levels
  • Ratings:
    • 3.8/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.96/5 (Goodreads)

Sometimes known as the ‘bible of the HR world,’ Gary Dessler’s iconic Human Resource Management is a 700-page, in-depth guide on the science and execution of people operations. 

Today, one of the most iconic HR books, it breaks down the essentials of HR according to functional areas, from hiring and talent management to training, compensation, and managing employee relations.

Now, in its 17th edition (with multiple international versions as well), the book not only explores the history of HR practices but focuses on how technology (like cloud computing) and social media (LinkedIn, in particular) shape the field. It also discusses how the latest HR tech tools and software are shaking things up in the ever-evolving world of HRM.

Key takeaways

  1. Revamp the hiring process: Make sure you’re not just filling positions but placing them in a way that syncs with your organization’s HR goals
  2. Create a workplace where employees are fully involved: Invest in training, development, and fair compensation to keep your team motivated and committed to the organization’s success
  3. Maintain a positive workplace culture: Build healthy relationships within your team and focus on resolving conflicts

What readers say:

Gary Dessler’s Human Resource Management book is a staple textbook for learning what HRM does in a company/organization as a department and a function. The book gives a solid explanation of [sic] what an HR manager’s roles are, what they should do and avoid, and what to do in situations where dilemmas (technical or ethical) occur [sic]. It is a must-read for any HR Managers and students undertaking the Human Resource Management course.

2. The Essential HR Handbook (10th Anniversary Edition) by Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell

2. The Essential HR Handbook (10th Anniversary Edition) by Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell
One of the ideal HR books for beginners
via Amazon
  • Authors: Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell
  • No. of pages: 256
  • Year published: 2008
  • Estimated reading time: 4-5 hours
  • Ideal for: HR beginners
  • Ratings:
    • 4.6/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.61/5 (Goodreads)

For over a decade now, The Essential HR Handbook by Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell has been helping HR professionals navigate a range of functions like recruitment, legal compliance, performance management, and workplace diversity.  

Freshly updated in 2020, the 10th edition of this book has easy-to-understand explanations on everything from handling diverse teams to crafting employee-friendly policies and benefits. Even today, this edition remains a go-to resource, providing tips and checklists for most HR practitioners.

Key takeaways

  1. Align HR with company goals: HR plans must be prepared to be in sync with the organization’s overall mission and strategic direction for the most impact
  2. Retention is key: It’s not enough just to hire people; HR departments must invest in a great onboarding and orientation process and also provide opportunities for continued training and development to employees
  3. Make performance reviews a positive experience: Instead of feeling like a fault-finding exercise, performance reviews should provide employees with positive feedback and reinforcement. For this, use the BEER (Behavior, Effect, Expectation, Results) and the FAST (Frequently, Accurately, Specific, Timely) methodologies

What readers say

This book is a great resource for someone beginning in the HR field as I am. I wanted a book that had information as well as sample forms and checklists, and this little book was it. If you’re just beginning in HR, I highly recommend this book.

3. Victory Through Organization: Why the War for Talent is Failing Your Company and What You Can Do About It by Dave Ulrich, David Kryscynski, Wayne Brockbank, and Mike Ulrich

Victory Through Organization
Victory Through Organization ranks among the more popular HR books for senior leaders
Via Amazon
  • Authors: Dave Ulrich, David Kryscynski, Mike Ulrich, and Wayne Brockbank
  • No. of pages: 417
  • Year published: 2017
  • Estimated reading time: 5-6 hours
  • Ideal for: Senior HR managers
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.82/5 (Goodreads)

Not a fan of old-school HR—where employees were encouraged to impress rather than bring their authentic selves to work? Then you’ll love Dave Ulrich’s bestseller, Victory Through Organization.

Published in 2017, it suggests a fresh approach to HR: building dynamic systems where great talent is not restricted to one department or practice area but leveraged across the entire organization. What’s unique about this book is that its ideas are based on insights from 30,000 HR professionals and business leaders!

Victory through Organization covers various HR themes, such as organizational effectiveness, talent development and deployment, building a sustainable competitive advantage, and more. It is considered a handbook for senior HR leaders.

The book challenges norms, busts myths, and pushes for real change. Its overall message is that success isn’t just about hiring top talent; it’s about making the most of it.

Key takeaways

  1. Use the 3-box strategic HR model: Distribute your focus between administrative efficiency, employee experience, and strategic HR capability-building (the three boxes) for maximum impact
  2. Gain a sustainable competitive advantage: Don’t just attract top talent; build a sustainable competitive advantage by leveraging and deploying that talent effectively 
  3. Win the war for talent: Look beyond traditional approaches to talent acquisition and management if you want to attract the best, most in-demand people

What readers say

Victory Through Organization is an extraordinary accomplishment: data-based, original, creative, and comprehensive. The case for why HR must re-conceptualize its core responsibility is brilliant. HR must be continuously ready to re-think and re-perceive why it exists; it has to change in the most fundamental ways from a status quo of meeting regulation requirements and the like, which are imposed from outside to being a proactive business partner which contributes to the development of strategy and financial outcomes while being an ongoing source of creativity and reality in terms of human performance.

4. The HR Scorecard: Linking People, Strategy, and Performance by Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, and Dave Ulrich

The HR Scorecard
One of the few HR books that talks about the ROI of HR
via Amazon
  • Authors: Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, and Dave Ulrich
  • No. of pages: 235
  • Year published: 2001
  • Estimated reading time: 4-6 hours
  • Ideal for: Mid-senior HR professionals
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.78/5 (Goodreads)

In a world where a company’s strength lies in intangibles and brainpower, The HR Scorecard by Brian Becker makes a strong case for the importance of HR. 

This book introduces the concept of an HR scorecard—a measurement principle that links the role of an HR professional to the firm’s performance. With insights drawn from surveying over 2,800 companies, the book concludes that companies with effective HR management systems often outperform their competitors. 

The book explains how to measure parameters like HR key performance indicators (KPIs) against business goals and covers a few indexes to help you calculate the ROI of any HR program.

Key takeaways

  1. Connect HR with organizational strategy: To be successful, HR today must understand and align with the business strategy and focus on achieving results that have a tangible impact on the company goals
  2. Develop HR metrics and measure impact: Measure the effectiveness of the HR function through leading and lagging metrics across talent acquisition, performance management, and training and development
  3. Balance long-term and short-term priorities: The book recommends that HR teams collaborate with business leaders to understand the business context and challenges. They should then work out a plan that balances short-term requirements (hiring needs, for example) with longer-term organization goals (such as personnel development)

What readers say

The book provides a measurement model to guide the implementation of human capital strategy, the ultimate objective of the model being to align strategy, people, and organizational performance. The authors present a new approach to managing a firm’s ‘HR architecture’ as a strategic asset, as well as measuring its contribution to the firm’s performance. The authors argue in favor of a top-down, rather than a bottom-up approach to the implementation of strategy, along with an innovative assessment system to measure HR’s contribution.

5. Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Bock

Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Bock
One of our favorite HR books today is this one by Laszlo Bock
via Amazon
  • Authors: Laszlo Bock
  • No. of pages: 416
  • Year published: 2015
  • Estimated reading time: 5-6 hours
  • Ideal for: Mid-to-senior HR managers
  • Ratings:
    • 4.6/5 (Amazon)
    • 4.1/5 (Goodreads)

Would you like to draw inspiration from the impeccable HR practices at Google and adapt them to fit your company? If yes, then this book is for you. 

Google’s former VP of People Operations, Laszlo Bock, compiles 15 years of intensive research in this inspirational collection of talent management lessons for teams of any size.

It includes real-world cases, actionable advice, and insights on balancing creativity and structure within a company. Bock also teaches you to reshape leadership from within the organization rather than top-down.

Key takeaways

  1. Trust your employees to act like founders: Instill a sense of ownership, be transparent, give them a voice, and embrace vulnerability to build trust among employees
  2. Take the time to hire the best: Follow a committee-based hiring approach, set clear standards, never compromise, and ensure new hires consistently outperform existing ones
  3. Make life easier for employees: Learn from Google’s focus on improving employees’ lives, saving their time, boosting convenience, and bringing joy without breaking the bank

What readers say

Google is not as unusual or hard to understand as people think—this book clearly shows that a unique philosophy, creativity, and lots of hard work prevail. Tons of fantastic examples which other companies can use, and a very good explanation of how to experiment and use analytics to create great people strategies.

6. Putting The Human Back into HR: Success as an HR Professional Begins with You by Su Patel

Putting The Human Back into HR
This gem among HR books can help HR professionals at all career stages
Via Amazon
  • Author: Su Patel
  • No. of pages: 196
  • Year published: 2018
  • Estimated reading time: 3-4 hours
  • Ideal for: HR team members across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.6/5 (Amazon)
    • 4.2/5 (Goodreads)

HR professionals often grapple with a question: Do I prioritize people or processes? 

If you, too, are struggling to find a balance between the two, Su Patel’s Putting The Human Back Into HR should be your next buy.

The book addresses the age-old conflict between human resources (the people) vs. human processes (the policies) and outlines key areas that HR professionals need to master. It covers how you can bring all the areas of the HR professional role together, feel more fulfilled as a member of the HR team, and pave the way for professional growth.

Key takeaways

  1. Find a middle ground between people and processes: Strive to be mindful of the person behind the job title without compromising on the processes
  2. Work on yourself first: Patel advises HR leaders to improve their leadership skills and be more proactive. This will prepare them to step up better to play a leadership role in the organization 
  3. Embrace change instead of reacting to it: Navigate challenges confidently and lead your team through transitions through the tools listed in this book

What readers say

I wish I had read this book years ago – and had others around me read it too! I think sometimes we overcomplicate Human Resources – after all, it ain’t rocket science – but also dehumanize it. This book addresses both of these failings – it is full of simple yet effective methods for HR professionals to use and has people at the heart of everyone.

7. HR On Purpose: Developing Deliberate People Passion by Steve Browne

HR On Purpose
One of the many influential HR books by Steve Browne
via Amazon
  • Author: Steve Browne
  • No. of pages: 168
  • Year published: 2017
  • Estimated reading time: 3-4 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks at all levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.6/5 (Amazon)
    • 4.16/5 (Goodreads)

Celebrated HR executive and veteran Steve Browne is just as passionate about human resources today as he was 30 years ago when he began his career. His best-seller, HR On Purpose, is a testament to that passion.

The book is a personal and motivational guide encouraging HR professionals to move beyond administrative tasks and do things that positively impact organizations.

Sometimes, dealing with HR issues day in and day out can be draining. Browne aims to reignite your enthusiasm through valuable insights, practical advice, and real-life examples, making this book a compelling read for all HR folks.

Key takeaways

  1. Align your passion and purpose with your HR profession: Ask yourself where your passion lies. If it’s not in working with people, you may not be an ideal candidate for the HR industry
  2. Use policies as guidelines, not handcuffs: Make your HR practices flexible by using policies and procedures as guides instead of restrictions
  3. Challenge outdated notions: Dismantle old-fashioned HR ideas and redefine expectations using modern tools and strategies. Use technology, data, social media, and new ideas

What readers say

If you want to be a great HR leader (or just a great leader), you should read this book! What I like best about HR On Purpose is the simple, practical leadership stories. That may seem strange for a book on HR (and might have something to do with my own focus on leadership) but one of Steve’s primary points is that HR folks – like all leaders – have to focus on people, not policies and compliance.

8. Belonging at Work: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Cultivate an Inclusive Organization by Rhodes Perry

Belonging at Work
This is one of the best HR books on the subject of inclusivity
Via Amazon
  • Author: Rhodes Perry
  • No. of pages: 202
  • Year published: 2018
  • Estimated reading time: 3-4 hours
  • Ideal for: HR professionals looking to foster inclusivity
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 4.2/5 (Goodreads)

Inspired by his own journey as a transgender man, Perry published Belonging At Work as a practical guide to building inclusive workplaces where everyone feels at home.

It’s not just about diversity and inclusion; it’s about building a welcoming organizational culture that lets employees bring their authentic selves to work and gives them a sense of belonging. Perry shares personal stories, case studies, and practical HR strategies that can help create a workplace that practices true allyship.

Perry uses a friendly, warm tone as he invites you to internalize why belonging matters, how it’s different from diversity and inclusion, and why it’s the future of human resources.

Key takeaways

  1. Recognize belonging as a basic human need: Understand that a sense of belonging in the workplace goes beyond race, gender, sexuality, and religion
  2. Lead with authenticity: Build a warm environment where people can show up as their true selves
  3. Be accountable to your DEI goals: Take concrete steps to integrate the separate but allied principles behind diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

What readers say

Rhodes Perry’s book Belonging at Work should be required reading for not only managers and supervisors but for everyone who interacts with others different from them in any fashion. Belonging at Work provides myriad stories, tips, exercises, and calls to action, all presented in Mr. Perry’s clear, congenial writing style.

9. HR Disrupted: It’s Time for Something Different by Lucy Adams

HR Disrupted
Looking for HR books about the VUCA world? Read this
Via Amazon
  • Author: Lucy Adams
  • No. of pages: 230
  • Year published: 2017
  • Estimated reading time: 4-5 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 4.13/5 (Goodreads)

As someone who works in the HR department, do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut?

Then you should read this book by Lucy Adams, which looks to break the mold of traditional HR and bring in a new perspective. 

HR Disrupted is an easy-to-read book centered around the question: How can a modern HR professional lead, manage, engage, and support employees in a constantly evolving business world?

Adams’ work, enriched with relatable examples from her experiences at the BBC, prompts readers to rethink how they work. 

She delves deep into minute details and suggests tools and tactics for all HR-related functions, including rewards, employment rules and policies, and talent management.

Key takeaways

  1. Adopt the EACH principle: Treat employees as adults, consumers, and human beings. This means respecting them as adults, acknowledging their diverse needs as consumers, and recognizing their humane side
  2. Move away from policies to people: Shift from a policy-focused approach and instead prioritize the needs and experiences of people
  3. Personalize the experience for your employees: Move beyond the one-size-fits-all model and cater to the individual needs and preferences of your employees

What readers say

This is by far the best book I’ve read in years; everything Lucy talks about is directly related to my own thoughts and observations I’ve seen with my own eyes in all the places I’ve worked. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in helping understand and address one of the most important and influential aspects of any business or organization that will greatly help achieve what it has set out to do…the people working in it.

10. The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth by Amy C. Edmondson

The Fearless Organization
This leader among HR books talks in depth about making the workplace a ‘safe space’
via Amazon
  • Author: Amy C. Edmondson
  • No. of pages: 256
  • Year published: 2018
  • Estimated reading time: 4-5 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 4.01/5 (Goodreads)

The human psyche is an intriguing, delicate thing, and business leaders must be mindful of how the workplace affects it. Amy Edmondson talks about that in her book, The Fearless Organization.

Edmondson’s book explores the idea of psychological safety—creating an environment where employees feel safe to take risks, share their thoughts, and learn without fearing negative consequences.

This book is like a north star for HR leaders and folks who want to boost employee engagement and spark innovation by letting people openly communicate, collaborate, and practice continuous learning.

Edmondson packs 20 years of research into this book, giving leaders practical steps to make their workplaces inclusive and fearless. This powerful book makes a strong case for the link between employee well-being and organizational success.

Key takeaways

  1. Promote psychological safety in the workplace: Make sure your employees feel secure sharing ideas, taking risks, and learning from mistakes without fear of reprisal
  2. Treat company strategy like an ongoing test, not a fixed plan: Focus on organizational learning, encourage everyone to actively seek new ideas that challenge current assumptions, and promote continuous improvement
  3. Don’t lower your performance standards: Create a ‘learning and high-performance zone’ at the workplace to promote fresh ideas and foster creativity

What readers say

Edmondson’s The Fearless Organization provides a useful framework for managers who are interested in promoting psychological safety in their work environments… One refreshing aspect of Edmondson’s framework is that it is backed by 20 years of research in multiple industries. This research shows the importance of psychological safety in the workplace: when employees do not feel enabled or encouraged to speak up with their questions or concerns, it can breed a culture of silence that may go beyond business failure and affect people’s physical and mental health.

11. Bring Your Human To Work by Erica Keswin

Bring Your Human To Work by Erica Keswin
This is on the WSJ’s list of bestselling HR books
via Amazon
  • Author: Erica Keswin
  • No. of pages: 224
  • Year published: 2018
  • Estimated reading time: 4-5 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.71/5 (Goodreads)

Ever felt like the human connection is missing in workplace relationships?

Erica Keswin’s Bring Your Human to Work is about bringing that warmth back.

With over 20 years of experience, Keswin reveals how top-notch companies like Lyft and Starbucks create genuine and supportive workplaces.

This Wall Street Journal bestseller is not your typical HR Ted Talk—it’s a practical guide on making your workplace more personable and fostering work habits that lead to company success and employee happiness.

Key takeaways

  1. Prioritize the well-being of your employees: Encourage employees to be healthy in body and spirit, recognizing the importance of holistic well-being
  2. Make space for face-to-face interactions: Recognize the power of personal connections in a technology-driven world
  3. Inspire your workforce to give back to the community: Create a culture of social responsibility by promoting community engagement

What readers say

Keswin’s book is filled with important reminders (backed by meticulous research) that supporting the PEOPLE who work with you and providing them with the tools to connect and give back creates a more productive and positive work environment. My personal bias – the chapters on giving back and saying thank you are the most meaningful, because the world, and every workplace, could use a little more kindness and humility these days. But every chapter is filled with gems of wisdom and honest perspective on how our technologically “connected” world needs a little more human connection.

12. Remote Not Distant: Design a Company Culture That Will Help You Thrive in a Hybrid Workplace by Gustavo Razzetti

Remote Not Distant
Looking for HR books about remote work? This is a good read
via Amazon
  • Author: Gustavo Razzetti
  • No. of pages: 328
  • Year published: 2022
  • Estimated reading time: 5-6 hours
  • Ideal for: HR professionals managing a remote workforce
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.83/5 (Goodreads)

In a world where remote work has become near-ubiquitous, it’s clear why this HR book made our list.

Remote, Not Distant is your roadmap to business success in the era of remote and hybrid work. Gustavo Razzetti, CEO of Fearless Culture, provides practical advice for maintaining a solid company culture, improving collaboration, and building psychological safety in the digital workplace.

This book offers actionable advice for companies aiming to boost employee satisfaction and productivity in remote-first organizations. It even recommends healthy work habits that make for high-efficiency, innovation-driven workplaces. 

Whether new to remote work or refining your strategies, you’ll find everything you need here to succeed in a modern workplace.

Key takeaways

  1. Rethink the role of the office: Understand and accept that the office, as a physical space, is not the sole driver of your company culture
  2. Make remote collaboration the star of your business: Equip your teams with strategies to stay connected, improve collaboration, and thrive in the digital workplace
  3. Build a thriving culture by design, not chance: Be intentional about nurturing values, communication, and collaboration instead of relying on chance or assuming that culture will naturally evolve 

What readers say

I’ve read lots of books on leadership for today’s world of hybrid scenarios and this one is the best. With over 135 references (all linked easily) it is thorough and precise. Highly recommended. No matter how long you think current conditions will last, this book is useful!

13. Diversity in the Workplace: Eye-Opening Interviews to Jumpstart Conversations about Identity, Privilege, and Bias by Bärí A. Williams

Diversity in the Workplace:
This is one of the most exciting HR books that talks about workplace diversity
via Amazon
  • Author: Bärí A. Williams
  • No. of pages: 128
  • Year published: 2020
  • Estimated reading time: 2-3 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.4/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.65/5 (Goodreads)

Creating an inclusive workplace requires asking difficult questions, and Bärí A. Williams manages to touch upon most of them in her book Diversity In The Workplace.

Williams takes us on a journey into workplace diversity through 25 insightful interviews, where marginalized individuals share their experiences around race, gender, LGBTQ+ identification, ability, age, religion, and culture.

What’s unique about this HR book is its practical touch. Each section wraps up with a valuable takeaway to use as your tool for change. Diversity in the Workplace is an excellent read for HR professionals, managers, and anyone keen on building inclusive workplaces.

Key takeaways

  1. Listen closely to your employees: Pay active attention to the problems your employees face and try to address them
  2. Reflect on bias: Take time to reflect on unconscious biases and how they impact workplace diversity
  3. Encourage empathy: Understand and connect with people by recognizing the challenges and successes they face based on their diverse identities

What readers say

Bäri is an intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate writer. I love that she’s able to capture the interviewees’ story [sic] in an unbiased manner, staying objective all throughout. I saw myself/my experiences in several stories so the book really hit home for me. I highly recommend reading it.

14. The Drama-Free Workplace: How You Can Prevent Unconscious Bias, Sexual Harassment, Ethics Lapses, and Inspire a Healthy Culture by Patti Perez

The Drama-Free Workplace
This is your go-to HR book if you want to learn to deal with workplace misconduct
via Amazon
  • Author: Patti Perez
  • No. of pages: 272
  • Year published: 2019
  • Estimated reading time: 5-6 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.87/5 (Goodreads)

If you aim to actively address workplace misconduct and nip the ‘drama’ in the bud, read The Drama-Free Workplace.

Authored by seasoned attorney and HR expert Patti Perez, this book gives you practical strategies to minimize drama, boost compliance training, and improve communication on sensitive topics at work.

With insights from over 1,200 workplace investigations, Patti covers everything about sexual harassment, bias, diversity, and ethical issues at the workplace.

It’s not just about legal compliance—it’s about creating a healthy workplace culture that is safe and respectful of everyone. The book debunks myths and offers practical tips for foreseeing and avoiding legal pitfalls when dealing with workplace issues.

Key takeaways

  1. Anticipate and prevent drama: Identify situations that may cause drama at work and try to prevent them from happening altogether
  2. Use emotional intelligence to talk about sensitive issues: Be empathetic while talking about controversial topics at the workplace instead of resorting to legal jargon
  3. Focus on effective policies and training: Create and enforce employee-friendly policies, design impactful training programs, and investigate and resolve claims of sexual harassment and misconduct

What readers say

This is a great book with tons of great material. Patti has tons of experience in the legal and operational field of how to best deal with creating a positive work culture that guards against a hostile work environment. If you want a workplace that can be creative, supportive, engaged, and thriving, then this book is a must. A step-by-step on how to get that done and make sure that your workforce is thriving… all of them!

15. The HR Answer Book: An Indispensable Guide for Managers and Human Resources Professionals by Shawn Smith and Rebecca Mazin

The HR Answer Book
This book answers all your everyday HR questions
via Amazon
  • Authors: Shawn Smith and Rebecca Mazin 
  • No. of pages: 288
  • Year published: 2011
  • Estimated reading time: 4-5 hours
  • Ideal for: HR folks across levels
  • Ratings:
    • 4.5/5 (Amazon)
    • 3.85/5 (Goodreads)

This is it if you ever need a book that answers every HR-related question. Authors Shawn Smith and Rebecca Mazin address over 200 common employer questions ranging from recruitment and discipline to downsizing and compensation.

This HR book is practically bursting with practical solutions to everyday human resource management-related issues and industry best practices. It also comes with bonus checklists. 

The HR Answer Book is essential for professionals seeking a quick consult guide to workplace issues. 

Key takeaways

  1. Clear policies are essential: An organization cannot operate successfully without clearly defined and adequately communicated policies to guide management and workers
  2. Compensation isn’t the deal-maker: Highly skilled talent often gives more weightage to a prospective employer’s work environment, benefits, and culture instead of the salary offered
  3. Build a culture of continuous learning: Effective and constant training and development are vital for keeping your employees productive and updated

What readers say

This really is an answer book! It covers in-depth [sic] answers to core HR policies and procedures in just about every aspect of HR. Oh and did you know that it also qualifies for recertification credits if you’re a SHRM-certified professional? Yes, that’s right. This book is worth 3 recertification credits if you take an online quiz (SHRM eLearning) after reading it…

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ClickUp for HR Professionals

Now that you’ve gained insights from these 15 top human resource management books, it’s time to implement them.

ClickUp’s HR analytics and data management platform can help you do that. With a slew of user-friendly productivity features for HR professionals, ClickUp is an essential addition to your toolkit of HR data and software products.

ClickUp for HR Professionals
Streamline HR processes and talent management with ClickUp 

Because ClickUp offers an all-in-one productivity platform that can help manage teams of any size and industry, it’s the perfect tool for HR teams juggling tasks like employee data, timesheets, and goals. 

With customizable features and over 1,000 integrations, it can centralize your work, from recruitment and payroll to onboarding and exits, across apps into a single collaborative workspace. 

So whether you’re figuring out employee engagement and rewards or measuring productivity, ClickUp can make all your HR data, decisions, and processes a breeze.

But does it align with all the takeaways we learned from our curated list of HR books? Let’s see.

1. Hiring

Hiring the right people is the first and arguably most crucial step in building a great company. Several of the best HR books on our list cover recruitment and hiring strategies extensively. And ClickUp simplifies and upgrades the entire process.

ClickUp recruitment Pipeline
Streamline your recruitment pipeline with ClickUp

Manage and store everything from job descriptions and team information to company details and policies using ClickUp Docs. Collaborate in real-time, customize to your brand style, and control access to safeguard confidential data.

You can revolutionize your talent search and interview process with ClickUp by organizing candidates, applications, and outreach in a streamlined pipeline. Also, create job descriptions, team information, company details, and company policies and give access based on authority.

Add the specifics you need with the help of custom fields and task descriptions, and use automation to usher candidates smoothly through the process.

And if you’re too short on time, turn to ClickUp’s extensive library of templates.

For instance, ClickUp’s Hiring Candidates Template is designed to help streamline and visualize your hiring process. You can use it to evaluate candidates, compare applicants, and stay organized with checklists and reminders.

Streamline recruitment and hire the best talent with Clickup’s Hiring Template

2. Onboarding

First impressions matter. Once you’ve hired fresh new talent, you’ve got to give them a great onboarding experience. ClickUp is here to help you with that.

ClickUp Onboarding
Give your new hires a great onboarding experience with ClickUp

Create onboarding workflows that can get your new hires off to a great start. Set up training modules with trackable tasks and process documents. After that, assign people their roles and actively communicate with them through tags, comments, and notifications. 

Streamline onboarding of new employees with ClickUp’s Employee Onboarding Template

With ClickUp, you can access ClickUp’s Employee Onboarding Template to create checklists, set up tasks and meetings, schedule training sessions, and promote collaboration.

Once everything’s set, it’s time to get to work.

3. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our collection has two excellent books (Diversity in the Workplace and Belonging at Work) that help HR practitioners build more inclusive, diverse workplaces. In your quest to do so, ClickUp is a staunch ally.

Create a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all employees with ClickUp’s Action Plan Template for DEI. Use this template to gauge the success of your DEI initiatives, collaborate on related tasks in a central location, and monitor the status and progress of each action item.

Drive DEI impact with ClickUp

But that’s not all. ClickUp has a ton of similar templates to help you maintain a diverse workplace. You can use them to create strategic plans, set goals, and even perform a SWOT analysis to better grasp your initiatives.

4. Employee engagement

Most HR books are brimming with shining examples of employee engagement. If you’d like to run some of these programs, ClickUp is the perfect partner. 

ClickUp Whiteboards
Put all your ideas in one place and work on them with your team using ClickUp Whiteboards

Brainstorm and visualize your employee engagement ideas among team members with ClickUp Whiteboards, and connect various process flows together to keep everything centralized in one place. Use customizable ClickUp Forms to collect team feedback on company policies and initiatives.

Employee Engagement with clickup dashboard Image
Manage and boost employee engagement with ClickUp

ClickUp has several templates to track and boost employment engagement. For instance, use the Employee Engagement Action Plan Template by ClickUp to create action plans to identify and address employee issues or double down on strategies to improve workplace engagement.

Use ClickUp’s Employee Engagement Survey Template to collect employee feedback

Additionally, you can work toward improving the employee experience by gathering employee feedback using ClickUp’s Employee Engagement Survey Template.

5. Performance management

The book The HR Scorecard is an ardent advocate of performance management, underscoring its importance through case studies and solid research.

Luckily, ClickUp comes equipped with everything related to performance management. Create trackable goals with specific targets using ClickUp Goals and keep tabs on all your wins. This lets you quickly see how your team is doing and track their overall performance.

Check out everything on your ClickUp Dashboards, and monitor business performance in real-time. Get valuable insights on performance reviews based on charts and graphs.

Plus, when needed, create personalized insights and performance reports for each employee to stay organized throughout your processes.

Get employees closer to their performance goals with ClickUp

Use the ClickUp Performance Review Template to gather and provide feedback during the employee performance review process. Create individual goals for employees and monitor their progress with customizable statuses to guide them through their growth plans. Prioritize these goals to ensure clarity on the criteria you use for measurement.

6. Reporting

Humans will make human errors. And when issues crop up at the workplace, they must be reported and dealt with effectively.

Use ClickUp’s ClickUp’s Employee Incident Report Template to monitor incident reports and maintain their detailed accounts for future purposes. Create actionable strategies and plans to organize response teams, tasks, and instructions within ClickUp.

Respond to incidents with razor-sharp efficiency
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Operationalize your HR Goals with ClickUp!

You have all the HR knowledge you need from our list of HR books. All you need now is a reliable tool to help you implement it at your workplace.

Trusted by teams of various sizes across several industries, ClickUp has everything you need to set up and run a successful HR team that fuels business growth. Use ClickUp Docs to build a knowledge base, Whiteboards for brainstorming ideas, and ClickUp Goals to share and track organizational goals. 

With features designed to support collaboration and efficiency, it’s an all-encompassing solution for your company. Plus, it won’t break the bank. Sign up today!

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