Happy HR Day!

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/02/2021 (2039 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While February is the shortest month of the year, it certainly doesn’t lack from the number of special days being celebrated. There’s Groundhog Day, Black History Month, National Missing Persons Day, I Love to Read Day, National Dark Chocolate Day and finally, Louis Riel Day. Well, as a member of the human resource profession, I think it is time to celebrate a special “Human Resources” day and so I am declaring Feb. 13, today, as the day to celebrate this new special event.

I am sure that many readers might be questioning why I am making this recommendation and I am pleased to share my thoughts with you.

First of all, human resource professionals have literally led the way with this lingering COVID-19 pandemic. When there was recognition that something drastic had to be done when the health directives were to stay home, it was these HR folks that quickly called their teams together to put a plan in place. This required not only ensuring remote workers had all the equipment to continue their work from home but it also meant creating specific policies and procedures to make this happen. Once out in the field, so to speak, the HR professionals needed to apply strategies to ensure that the remote team was as much a team as when they were physically located together.

Yet, what else do human resource professionals do? Why should they have a special day dedicated to them? I share the following reasons for your consideration.

Executive advice — our workplaces are so legislated these days that it is hard to keep up with all the changes. So, this, too, is the job of an HR professional. These professionals then take this information and determine the impact on their organization and inform senior executives on what needs to be done. When COVID-19 hit our organizations, it was the HR professional who helped prepare the communication and paper work for the temporary layoffs. It was the HR professional who advised on any restructuring that needed to occur and it was the HR professional who was available to answer all the employee questions as well as helping to smooth over the expected negative emotional reactions.

Recruitment and retention — Are you familiar with the extensive process your organization goes through to ensure the right person is hired for the right job at the right time? The HR professional would typically set this up. They would train the selection team to avoid interview questions that are against the law. They ensure that all the recruitment documentation is in place in case there is a complaint to human rights. They ensure that all the documents are prepared and executed for employment agreements and onboarding the new employee. In other words, the HR professional plays a key role in the entire recruitment processes.

Employee relations — Are you experiencing a conflict with a colleague? Are you challenged by your boss and his/her communication style? One of the roles of an HR professional is to listen to employee challenges and help them find a solution. Many of the issues that arise are related to the interpretation of policies or a manager may not feel confident in dealing with an employee issue and so HR professionals provide coaching on various topics and issues. In this case, the HR professional acts as a neutral individual that represents the interests of the employer while seeking solutions through collaboration. All in all, the value of an intervention by an HR professional is critical.

Compensation and benefits — Have you ever had a question about your pay? Questions such as the timing of your next raise or what benefits you are personally paying for versus the organization? Human resource professionals not only know the answer but they are fully aware of what resources are available in the benefit package. They are usually the ones to negotiate new benefit deals for their organization. Do you understand where you are on the salary scale? Do you know why your salary is placed where it is? The HR professional knows the answer and will explain it to you. The HR professional keeps track of salaries within the local marketplace and advises management on whether or not the organization is leading, lagging or meeting the marketplace.

Training and development — Have you ever wanted to take a training program to help advance your career? Have you ever inquired about what careers are available in your organization and how you can move forward to new opportunities? It’s the HR professional that can assist you with these inquiries. These professionals have a good understanding of what jobs are available, what training is available, and what the employer will pay for as well as the “how/when” of tuition fee reimbursement. Having an HR resource with this information is very valuable.

Employee engagement — The pandemic has been a disruptive event that has led to employees being sent home to work remotely and many are feeling stressed, burned out, disengaged and struggling to manage any sense of work-life balance. It is the HR professional’s role to be aware of employee reactions and to gain deeper insight into understanding what is going on with employees. Knowing this information will help to ensure that steps are taken to enhance the quality of employee experiences and that work productivity doesn’t decline. In this case, the HR professional might implement an employee engagement survey to assess the emotional well-being of employees.

At one time, not all that long ago, smaller organizations with less than 100 employees rarely employed a human resource manager. Today, more and more companies are taking a serious look at the value of an HR professional. However, it has taken years to prove the value of a human resource professional and thankfully, more individuals are finally sitting at the decision table, helping executives make the right decisions before action is taken. No more are HR professionals simply considered the gatekeepers or company police officers. Today, HR professionals are critical to the entire operation so that employees can be the best that they can be. HR professionals are the glue that holds the organizational culture together by providing leadership in all areas of human resources and encouraging a collaborative, high performing workplace.

So, hurray! Today, I have named Feb. 13 as Human Resources Day. Please help us celebrate.

Barbara J. Bowes, FCPHR, CCP, M.Ed., is the lead HR practice leader with Legacy Bowes and is the author of eight books, a radio personality, a speaker, an executive coach and workshop leader. She is also chairwoman of the Manitoba Status of Women. Contact her at barb@legacybowes.com