Human resource professionals who specialize in benefits management need to stay on top of the latest government regulations regarding 401(k) plans, medical insurance and paid leave time.Involving human resources before, during and after a merger can avoid creating a disengaged and disenfranchised workforce. When studying the financial statements, companies often overlook a key asset that's not included on the balance sheet: employees. Roughly seven out of 10 mergers and acquisitions fail, according to the Harvard Business Review.Every deal has its unique challenges and clarity on how to handle the “people issues” will increase chances for success. Human resources (HR) should play a prominent role through every stage of the merger and acquisition (M&A) lifecycle from due diligence to integration planning and realization of synergies.
