Free online courseHR Basics

Course Description

Strong Human Resources practices are the difference between a workplace that merely functions and one that consistently performs. This free online course in Human Resources introduces the foundations that help organizations hire well, support people effectively, and reduce risk while improving engagement and outcomes. Whether you are moving into an HR role, managing a team for the first time, or aiming to understand how HR decisions shape business results, you will gain a clear, practical view of how modern HR operates.

You will explore how HR connects to organizational strategy, why culture matters, and how recognition and meaningful feedback influence motivation and performance. The course also strengthens your ability to navigate essential employee relations topics: onboarding, conflict, investigations, discipline documentation, and performance improvement. These skills help you create consistent experiences, address issues early, and build trust through fair processes and transparent communication.

Because HR is tightly connected to law and ethics, you will also build confidence around workplace rights and responsible decision-making. You will learn how key compliance concepts affect everyday situations, including equal employment opportunity, protected classes, reasonable accommodation, discrimination risks such as disparate treatment and disparate impact, and expectations around harassment prevention. You will see how HR policies support consistent standards, how selection processes can be structured to improve quality and reduce bias, and why documentation and metrics matter when decisions are reviewed.

On the talent and rewards side, the course helps you understand workforce planning, recruitment, selection, job analysis, job descriptions, job evaluation, compensation, total rewards, and benefits. You will also touch on HR systems and data, including HR metrics and HR information systems, so you can think beyond intuition and support people decisions with evidence. Interactive questions and exercises throughout the lessons help reinforce terminology, improve judgment, and translate concepts into on-the-job readiness.

By the end, you will be better equipped to collaborate with HR, support employees, and contribute to a healthier, more productive workplace—skills that apply across industries and career levels. If you are looking for a practical starting point in Human Resources within Business and Marketing, this course offers a well-rounded foundation you can use immediately.