is there an "s" or not?

Cinderella · October 2002

Is it "the human resource department" or "the human resources department"? Am I a Human Resource Assistant or a Human Resources Assistant? Do you have 30 Human Resource Managers at a seminar or 30 Human Resources Managers at a seminar?
This is making me nuts. I keep using "HR" to side step it...but does anyone REALLY know if there is an "s" or not?x:-/
Cinderella

jburmeister · October 2002

Good question! I always add the "s". So, it's always Human Resources...

Human Resources Specialist
Human Resources Department

etc, etc...

"HR Baby"
Jen Burmeister
HR Specialist
NBPTS
[email]jburmeister@nbpts.org[/email]

sonny · October 2002

We use the s

Don D · October 2002

We use the 'S', Sinderella. I think humans have more than one resource. Our Department of Resources has a bag full of 'em.

System · October 2002

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 10-28-02 AT 11:03AM (CST)[/font][p]I vote for the "s". So does the American Heritage Dictionary.

Christy Reeder
Website Managing Editor
[url]www.HRhero.com[/url]

Cinderella · October 2002

Alright that settles it, I'm using the "s"! 8-} Thanks ya'll
Cinderella

March22Collector · October 2002

I always use the "s"..Seems everyone else does too. But, it's funny, SHRM does not (Society For Human Resource Management). Hmm...

JJ · October 2002

WOW! Who am I to go against the grain...I wasn't using the "s" but will now after this vote of confidence.

Diane in FL · October 2002

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 10-29-02 AT 09:36AM (CST)[/font][p]While it may be true that the AH Dictionary uses an "S", the department name is a descriptor, as in "For what type of resource is this department responsible?". Those people working in the department are Human Resource Administrators, Managers, Assistants, etc. Human Resource personnel are responsible for all services to the (small letters) human resources (as opposed to electrical or other resources) used in the operation of an organization. The plural form refers to the people being served and the singular refers to the type of management performed. That's why you see SHRM using Society for Human Resource Management.

Diane Faulkner, ACC, SPHR
"Strategies" Editor, The Business Journal
"Work Matters" Columnist, Charleston Regional Business Journal

>Is it "the human resource department" or "the human resources
>department"? Am I a Human Resource Assistant or a Human Resources
>Assistant? Do you have 30 Human Resource Managers at a seminar or 30
>Human Resources Managers at a seminar?
>This is making me nuts. I keep using "HR" to side step it...but does
>anyone REALLY know if there is an "s" or not?x:-/
>Cinderella

is there an "s" or not?

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