HR has come a long way from the days of being called “Personnel,” but in some ways, the old stigmas hold strong.
Some of the blame rests with the HR profession itself. Now, I know many in my field would strenuously disagree, and they’re certainly entitled to their opinions. However, I stand by my assertion. If you count my jobs as a teen (and I do), I’ve been in the workplace for more than 30 years, and my interactions with HR have been mostly underwhelming. At least in the circles where I’ve traveled, HR still struggles to demonstrate core knowledge, think strategically, and gain trust.
On the other hand, HR is routinely and unfairly held accountable for things no HR department can control, like poor performance management, lack of transparency (especially within senior management), inequitable wages, workplace bullying, and managerial favoritism. News flash, folks – HR operates within the same system like everyone else and is bound by the same rules. Put another way; HR can’t change the company culture. If the culture sucks, HR is as much a victim as anyone.
And yet, I always come back to this inviolable truth: companies need HR. They really, really do. There’s many people stuff that requires attending to in the world of work, and individuals suited for and trained in HR are the best folks to attend to it, hands down. Whenever I enter a new company and assume the function previously handled by a CFO, COO, or other operating/finance expert, I discover a fine mess – no matter the talents of that CFO, COO, or other operating/finance expert. I realize this is my experience, but I’ll bet $10 that somebody reading this article can relate.
HR is a defined skill set, and not everyone can do it. We generally recognize that with other professions (marketing, finance, communications, business development, sales, etc.), but not so with HR. Instead, we hold off on hiring an HR professional until things have reached a boiling point. That’s a mistake. HR is so much more than a necessary evil. Allow me to elucidate:
I could go on and on (seriously, I could), but suffice it to say that progressive employers get that good HR is integral to sustainable business growth. Now that’s far from a necessary evil!