HR Audits: Assessing Critical Issues in 2021

The threats and risks from human capital management issues are increasing. They are no longer measured in only fines, penalties, and awards for non-compliance. Human capital management affects keys business metrics, including the organization’s valuation and credit rating. Further, improper human capital management significantly reduces managerial prerogatives and seriously damages the organization’s reputation and employment brand. Thus, HR audits have become a critical tool in identifying problem areas and are evolving from an ad-hoc audit activity to a critical element of organizations’ strategic, risk management, and compliance processes.

Numerous external and internal forces and factors have an impact on the demand for and scope of HR audits. First, in the global economy, human capital has become for many organizations the single most important determinant of competitiveness, productivity, sustainability, and profitability. Increasingly, the organization’s human capital is the source of innovation and a driver of business success. 

Second, a confluence of economic, political, and social factors, including corporate scandals and increasing stockholder initiatives have resulted in increased statutory and regulatory requirements, a call for greater transparency, and increased internal and external audit activity.

Third, governmental agencies have become more active — some would argue more aggressive — and have committed more resources to conducting assessments of employment policies and practices. Importantly, the EEOC, the OFCCP, U.S. DOL, and ICE have advised employers that they consider self-assessments and audits a “best practice.”

In this environment, HR audits have become an important activity in identifying current and potential problems, and a critical element in demonstrating an organization’s commitment to addressing key issues. 

• The important role of HR auditing
• Identifying and assessing the strategic, operational, and transactional impact of HR audits
• The role HR audits play in measuring and communicating critical information about your organization
• The basics of using HR audits in assessing human capital related risks
• How your organization can use HR audits to improve strategic and operational decision making

Understanding and measuring the importance of your organization’s human capital has taken on new importance. How effective is your human capital in helping your organization achieve its business objectives? Do your employment practices create material risks and liabilities? Have you identified and are you managing key human capital decisions? Is your organization prepared for numerous changes in critical employment issues? This session discusses the development and use of HR Audits in answering these questions and addressing critical risk management and due diligence issues.

• HR professionals
• Internal auditors
• External auditors
• Risk managers
• Compliance officers
• CEOs
• CFOs

Ronald L. Adler, president of Laurdan Associates Inc. has 42 years of HR consulting experience and has served as a consulting expert on work force, workplace, and HR management issues for The Wall Street Journal, HRMagazine, and other publications and newspapers across the country. Mr. Adler's research findings have been used by the Federal Reserve Board, the EEOC, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), insurers, and international organizations.

Mr. Adler is a frequent lecturer and author on HR management, employment practices, and UI issues. Mr. Adler is the author and editor of the Employment-Labor Law Audit (ELLA), the internationally recognized HR auditing and employment practices liability risk assessment process.

Mr. Adler is an adjunct professor at Villanova University where teaches a graduate level course in HR Auditing. Mr. Adler is also a certified instructor for The Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) Society on employment practices liability and HR auditing issues and has conducted continuing education courses for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) on HR management and HR auditing topics. Additionally Mr. Adler has served as an adjunct instructor at the Baltimore City Community College on workplace diversity and sexual harassment.

Mr. Adler is an appointee to State of Maryland's Unemployment Insurance (UI) Oversight Committee and previously served as an appointee to the State's UI Funding Task Force, the UI Advisory Committee, and the state's Workforce Training Initiative. Mr. Adler has served as a moderator at the State of Maryland's Annual Human Relations Conference and at the state's Annual Small Business Conference.