Question

What do these title changes say about the direction of Human Resources? Has the forcus of what HR does changed or have we merely changed the wording?

Answer 1

Human Resource Department is going through a phase of renovation , modernization , updation , this modern world and so the titles are also changing , now.

10 years back the HR had a limited role and was considered to be a person or department , who is working for the Management and they are never looking into the “Human ” part of the “ Resource”.

Now, the meaning is changing and so the role is.

Earlier , the HR was considered “ The police ” of the organization , whose task was to report about anything wrong done by any employee ,and the penalties and action on the person so as to work as Police only.

Now , new HR roles are of a Mentor , a Guide , a Coach , who always tries to understand what has exactly happened and why ? New HR person handles these situation very carefully and they are first of all , on the employee’s side and think from their perspective. When they think , positively behind any act ,which requires enquiry and investigation ,they create a friendly atmosphere in the organization so that the employees are free to discuss about their difficulties, weakness in the system and the suggestions for improvement are welcomed.

Earlier, HR was considered to be a person , having a Status , who had the impression that nobody can directly , talk to them and discuss about improvements. HR person was himself , treated him , above all and making an impression of a very senior and reputed person , to whom , meeting was just an impossible thing for small level employees and workers.

Now, HR has given up their Status quo thing and they try to merge with the mainstream workers and participate in the good and bad experiences at the organization. Now, the Employees are also feel comfortable when the HR is around and he is so friendly that they don’t hesitate to discuss about the pettiest thing , which is disturbing them.

Earlier , Hire and Fire was taken simultaneously and it was treated at same level , where it was similar task for the HR to Hire or to Fire , he had no inputs or contribution to the situation.

In fact, that hire and fire policy , has resulted in many issues listed below

• Brain drain – Good , Intelligent , Sincere employees have left the organization due to the insecurity in the organization and working with another organization , where they are not so good in pay off but still comfortable with the culture
• Replacement getting difficult – When an employee leaves an organization ,he creates an impression, outside the organization and the person coming in , definitely , checks in about the status of the organization , through friends, and known persons. When he comes across such ex employees, he is reluctant to join such organization and the organization , realizes it late that the situation is out of repair.
• Retention is a better policy then Replacement – Lately , the Organizations have realized that it is better to retain an old , experienced employee , rather than experimenting on the new employees. After all , nobody is perfect and even the organizations are not perfect.

Smart management and HR personnel have realized that the time has gone with old theories and they have to cultivate new concepts of Human Resource , where the meaning of “ Human” is visible to all and not on only papers.

We find that the focus of the HR has really changed now and it is not merely a change of words as said.

Now the new HR positions are called the

• Peoples Manager –
• Team leader
• Team Manager etc

Now , HR is not limited to recruitment and firing only. Now, HR is doing Training , Teaching , Coaching , Improving the work culture and removing the gaps , in communication at any level.

In fact , it has become the need of the hour now that Organization have to have happy employees and a happy employee only can give you happy results. If the employee is not happy , he will not contribute to the growth of the organization. He will only stick to his duties and in/out timings only.

If he is involved in the progress of the organization, he will come out with the suggestions for improvement and weakness of the organization and the organizations with open minds are now , working on themselves, seriously.