HR is useless. Let's fire the entire HR department and nothing will change. The typical HR employee is an overweight middle-aged woman who likes gossip. These and other stereotypes appeared in the evaluation of HR recently highlighted by HR guru Dave Ulrich. The article was on the Human Capital Magazine website. Dave considers these judgements as outdated prejudices that need to be replaced by more realistic views.
Why is HR perceived negatively?
Dave Ulrich first sees the problem of the negative perceptions of HR in assessments based on the past. Human resources originally was only an administrative function which managed recruitment and payroll. That is, however, not longer the case. The second problem is that people tend to assess all HR people according to the significant minority of those who do not want to change and improve.
"Finally, I believe that many of the HR naysayers have somewhere had a horrible personal HR experience. They may have been passed over for a job or promotion, had a terrible performance review, or not been paid what they felt they deserved. They're damning an entire profession by their personal encounter is like judging the US by a day in New York City," explains Dave Ulrich.
How can HR move on and be perceived better?
Dave Ulrich advises HR people to start with the business of their companies. Only when HR activities begin to focus on business requirements of the companies, can they deliver business results. Inovate! HR processes related to recruitment, training, compensation, as well as the unpopular performance evaluation, should be adapted according to the current business strategy of a company and the overall context of its business. Focus on building a corporate culture based on leadership and that reflects the external brand of your company.
Final advice: Do not complain about the past or the present, rather anticipate and create a better future.
-kk-