What you’ll learn to do: Discuss human resource management risk management

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines risk as the “effect of uncertainty on objectives.”^[1] In the introduction to its risk management standard—ISO 31000—the organization notes that “risks affecting organizations can have consequences in terms of economic performance and professional reputation, as well as environmental, safety and societal outcomes. Therefore, managing risk effectively helps organizations to perform well in an environment full of uncertainty.”^[2] In this section, we’ll identify risks associated with human resources activities and how to manage them.