Human resource management involves planning, organizing, directing, and controlling organizational human resources to satisfy organizational, individual, and societal needs. It includes activities like recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal, compensation and benefits, and labor relations. Key aspects of HRM are HR planning to forecast needs, developing consistent HRM components, using valid selection tools, providing training and development programs, conducting performance appraisals, establishing competitive pay and benefits, and managing labor relations. Legislation like the Railway Labor Act, Wagner Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act supported unions, while the Taft-Hartley Act restricted some union powers.