Thread by @hannytalker

Why HR?

If your answer is.......*drum rolls*

I just love people (no o, it's me that hate person)
I am a Peoples person
I am passionate about people

then you don't really understand HR.

HR is a business function.

A thread.

HR is about understanding how an organisation works and how people can achieve the organsations objective so as an HR professional you need to know everything about the business you are in otherwise you will not be able to add any tangible value.

When starting out in HR you will be doing a lot of administrative task but HR is not Admin. According to Dave Ulrich HR can be broken down into 4 main functions.
Admin, Employee champion, Change Agent and Strategic Partner. I will be discussing each of them shortly

Before I start my discussion on the various functions earlier highlighted it is pertinent that I also mention the HR value chain as outlined by CIPM.
1. Recruitment and Selection. Under this we can talk about manpower planning, talent acquisition,talent management, interviews

2. Performance Management. Here we talk about performance plan, performance appraisal, performance improvement

3. Learning and Development. Here we discuss training needs, designing training curriculum, implementing training

4. Compensation and Benefits.

It covers compensation strategy, pay analysis, coming up with pay structures, payroll

5. Industrial and Employee Relations. This talks about discipline, grievances, handling procedures, conditions of employment, union management

6.Organisational Development and change mgt

This focuses on organisational strategy, job enlargement, change mgt

7. Diversity and inclusiveness
8.HR strategy and planning
9.HR Analytics

Back to the four functions of HR as outlined by Dave Ulrich. The Admin part of HR will handle majority of employee documentation e.g contracts, recruitment paper work, leave and benefits administration etc

The employee champion is particular about the welfare of employees.

Strategic partner. Everytime you hear people use the word strategy. It's even put in CVs without people having a proper understanding of what this means.

Strategy is the intent or the why behind a certain thing. You could buy bottles of water and arrange a meeting. That's Admin

But the intent behind the actions is the strategic part. But how can you talk about the why if you as HR dont understand your business and how it makes money. That's where the strategic partner comes into play

Change Agent. As the name implies you will support any change activity. For example this global pandemic will disrupt the status quo and stir up a lot of changes in the workplace. It is in HR place to be at the fore front of the current happenings.