Personalwesen
Human resources in German is Personalwesen.
The term refers to the personnel department of an organization.
Meaning: the personnel department of an organization (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Personalwesen is a compound of Personal, meaning personnel or staff and Wesen, meaning affairs, matters or essence.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The formal term for human resources is Personalabteilung. In modern German corporate environments, the English acronym HR is frequently used in speech and writing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is neuter and takes the definite article das, as in das Personalwesen.
Did you know?
- The component Wesen in Personalwesen is the same word used for a 'being' or 'creature', such as a Waldwesen for a forest creature.
- The word Personal is a loanword from the French personnel, which explains why it differs from the native German word for people, Leute.
- Despite the formal use of Personalwesen, many German companies have rebranded their HR departments to People and Culture to sound less like a government office.
Examples in context
- Ich möchte gerne Informationen von der Personalabteilung erhalten.I would like to receive information from the human resources department.
- Hast du schon mit der Personalstelle über die neuen Arbeitszeiten gesprochen?Have you already talked to HR about the new working hours?
- Das Personalwesen ist heute sehr beschäftigt.The human resources department is very busy today.
- Das Personalwesen bearbeitet alle Verträge.Human resources processes all the contracts.
Example conversation
Julian is asking Laura where to submit his vacation request.
- JulianWo muss ich meinen Urlaubsantrag abgeben?Where do I have to submit my vacation request?
- LauraDu musst das im Personalwesen erledigen.You have to handle that in human resources.
- JulianWeißt du, wo das Büro ist?Do you know where the office is?
- LauraJa, es ist im zweiten Stock.Yes, it is on the second floor.
