There’s a big discussion about whether or not HR is dead.
Some say that HR is a redundant and outmoded department that adds no value. Others say that HR is alive and kicking. We operate as strategic leaders and thinkers. When we’re doing HR right, we are focused on linking profit, results and people into a comprehensive strategy.
Unfortunately, I know that very few people in HR who attain the status and influence in a company to positively impact the organization. Most people deal with immature employees and job seekers who call incessantly — even when you’re in the role of VP of HR at a major organization. How do I know this? You guys are sending me proof.
I’m going to start publishing (with your permission) some of the items in my inbox. Memos. Email messages. Recordings. I’m loaded, and it’s time to show the world what Real HR deals with on a daily basis.
First up? Leif. The poor guy needs a job. Listen to his voicemail message.
When Leif can call into a company and reach the CEO or CMO as easily as he can reach the leader of a Human Resources department, my work with this blog will be done.
In the meanwhile, send me your crazy email messages, voicemail messages, and anything that showcases the utter sadness of your job in HR. I’ll post your items (anonymously of course) on Mondays.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m going to step up to the line of fire and say that HR is dead, dead, a thousand times dead and should be shot again just to make sure. The idea of HR being considered a strategic leader is laughable, at best. I don’t say this in the sense that the function is pointless, or that someone who works in HR can’t be a strategic leader necessarily. I think the words Human Resources are dead to the world in the same sense that vegetarianism is, and to an increasing degree, “green,” “eco-” and “organic.” The words come preloaded with impressions that are typically negative and allow people to dismiss it out of hand, regardless of reality. You can either expand a lot of energy trying to overcome it, or put that energy towards getting something done.
If you want the HR function to be taken more seriously, first raise the bar of what it means to be in HR and what’s expected – a movement that already seems to be underway, as this blog shows. Once you’ve figured out what the next evolution is, pick a title that conveys an expectation beyond tax forms and sexual harassment workshops. The end result may be that HR gets bifurcated, and people that have the capability to do all the things that are described in the second point move into that field.
Please….not another HR is dead conversation….I only have a limited number of days on this earth – nothing personal to anyone who makes an earnest point on this, but……YAWN….
As for the madness that fills inboxes, I’ve already shared a couple here:
http://people-everyday.blogspot.com/2009/10/sanity-is-not-competency.html
http://people-everyday.blogspot.com/2009/09/overleaping-mark.html
But if any more come my way, I’m happy to forward them on to you Laurie!
Laurie,
Thanks so much for posting Leif’s voice mail message. I can now take myself out of the running for receiving the “all-time” most insane message from a job seeker. Listening to it was almost too difficult…..Funny but sad.
Any HR pro that can run interference between the Leif’s of the world and company executives deserves a special place in any organization.
This is a hard post to comment on. It is easy to say HR is Dead, because in so many ways I am in agreement. But to say it is not dead, and then relay my own experiences (mostly, revolving around ME), then I sound pompous. But I will bite.
To make a point, let’s look to another role of which we all know, that of Administrative Assistant. Roughly speaking, if I lined up 100 Admin Assists, 90% of them would be very similar. Routine work, routine effort, routine results, routine frame of reference, routine support. But then there is that other 10%. That group of Admins that makes you stand back, when you see them in action, and say: Damn, that person kicks ass! That person really contributes. That person really gets shit done!
To me, that is HR. The overwhelming majority of folks I meet are newbies, or posers, or isolationists, or simply stuck in a 1950’s paradigm of Personnel Management. But then there are those others, that 10%, who are more Operations or Sales Manager, than they are HR Manager. They genuinely get the job done, and at the highest levels.
This is the only side of HR I have ever wanted, and I have strived to make it this way, challenging myself and the people to whom I have reported, to only see me in this fashion. And time and time again, a new boss will work with me, for 6 months, then say: Wow, you are not like other HR people I have met, you are almost like me! They cannot believe they are saying the words, as they mutter them, and I just nod my head, smile, and say: I know, it’s great aint it?
As if conjured by the magic of this post, I received this very morning a 6 pound, 3 inch thick, 25 tabbed sections, leatherbound resume. It is magnificent, but since I’ve already interviewed the dude, wholly irrelevant.
You reap what you sow. Too many HR Leaders, allow or create these type of situations
We have a new Sr Hr person for our business unit. This person does not want unhappy employees in organization. Eliminating unhappiness becomes a major factor in this person’s decisions. People are starting to figure this out. Now we are seeing people going to this HR person with “morale issues” whenever something does not go their way.
I think I was bifurcated on Saturday– but was too drunk to notice.
Leif? Total waste of time – demonstrates how some people just don’t get it.
HR? Alive and well wherever people are employed. I just don’t see line staff and business unit people ever doing what HR does. It would take up too much of their time and distract from what they’re tasked to do – make sales, count profit, get the word out about new products, etc.
@Phillip Dude, vegetarianism is not dead. What? Weird. I know what you mean and what you’re trying to write, but vegetarianism is a serious movement that’s growing in size and credibility. I like bacon, but I’m on the side of vegetarians on this one.
@TheHRD We had this discussion in Kentucky, this weekend, at an HR conference. The timing was too perfect. I had to publish this.
@Fran I feel nothing but pity for anyone who deals with poor Leif. I got this recording in July and have sat on it… didn’t know what to do with it. It’s a good reminder that people are c-r-a-z-y.
@Dale I love that you are passionate about HR and making it better.
@Puf I only hire people who wrap their resumes in fine, Corinthian leather.
@SalesComp Eliminating unhappiness becomes a major factor in this person’s decisions. Why isn’t this the regular role of the manager?
@Matty You are so bifurcated it hurts.
@Marsha Staff and line people used to do what HR did before the 1950s. So I dunno.
I hope Leif’s Bengal kitty has managed to get over its fear of the phone ringing off the hook by now.
@Laurie, What? You want managers to manage and maybe provide some leadership? We have some serious morale issues that cannot be left to only the managers.
+++++++++++++++
A sarcasm free comment: Morale issues are part of the manager’s regular role. Or at least they were.
@maczter I feel sorry for that cat — imaginary or not.
@sales exactly.
The sad fact is that we deal with this on a regular basis…not that I’ve dealt with that type of caller but the reality is that when a person calls into the main line and asks for “Human Resources” they can get anyone, including the CHRO. That would never happen if someone called for sales or marketing. HR people have to decide which hill it is worth charging up with their clients or if their clients are asking for worthless things and we let them go up alone. Then we create value when we say no to the right things
@Michael Thank you. We are in love. Sorta. I mean, HR love. Really. That’s it. I’m totally professional. Don’t write me up for inappropriate responses.
In a perfect world HR would be dead because managers would always make good decisions with the best interest of the company at heart. Employees would always check their baggage at the door and work for the mutual benefit of themselves and company. Everyone will live and breathe diversity and will have been placed in the perfect fit by the last vestigial of HR, Recruiting. And since everyone will be doing everything so well, the Government and Courts will eliminate all compliance reporting and auditing. EEOC and unemployment will close up its doors and people will be dancing in the streets. Global warming will have successfully moved the ocean and tropical temperatures to the Washington DC area, where I will be running my jet ski/funnel cake shop. The Jet Ski shop will be a hobby mind you, as I will have multiple novels on the NY Times Best seller list and will have won the lottery.
late to this one, sorry
dude is high, so high,
he looks down at the ground to see the sky.
he want’s to be free, so free,
but he’s compelled to sing a song for you and me.
i love lief
Sid.