HR stands for Human Resource, manage the most important and crucial resource which can make or break any organization. But sadly HR is the most ‘Hardly Respected’ job profile in any organization.
Any and all employee will in unison say “what work HR has except arranging events and parties throughout the year”. Being an HR this statement throws me in fit of rage but alas HR can’t lose temper and always have to keep calm. Hence this one is dedicated to all my fellow colleagues who always end up asking me “HR ko kya kaam hota hai?”
Even though you are highly talented and skilled candidate, it’s the HR who takes the effort in searching your profile out of the hundreds and thousands out there and calls you for an interview. In your journey from a candidate to an employee of the organization, the only person whom you reach out to is HR. And this is just the beginning!
In your entire employee life cycle HR plays the lead, side actor or behind the scene role. It’s the tip of iceberg that an employee sees but only an HR knows the amount of work involved beneath it. Right from the dress code, time and attendance, employee relations HR has to ensure that the workplace maintains its discipline and decorum. Be it your confirmation, appraisal or promotion, HR plays a role much more than just handing over the letter to you. To ensure that you are updated and at the top of your skill set it’s the HR who takes the selfless effort of conducting training and L&D sessions. To ensure that you have fun at workplace, HR has to don the hat of event manager and conduct events and parties for all the festivities throughout the year. It’s the HR whom you reach out to for all type of problems: be it coffee machine, canteen, chair or work, team mates, manager and expect them to wave a magic wand. And this doesn’t end here!
Defining KRA’s and job role, skill set mapping, performance evaluation, talent management, succession planning are some of the discreet activities carried out by HR with utmost care without disrupting the ongoing operations. Dealing with senior management, employees, client or vendor- HR plays a critical role and hence is the face of the organization. Reprimanding an employee for not following the code of conduct or discussing performance improvement plans or executing an exit it’s the HR who is asked to take up the tough job. And playing this role is not an easy task because at the end it’s HR that has to face the heat, beat and music of the situation.
In the transition from employee to ex-employee, it’s again the HR for rescue. Be it gathering information on company policy to understanding the exit formalities, HR Department is the one stop shop. An employee’s exit ends the engagement with the organization but not with the HR. HR has to ensure that the employee gets a positive exit experience and has to respond calls and queries related to relieving letter, experience letter or F&F settlement.
Thus HR is the first and last point of contact for any employee in any organization. It continuously strives and carries out a tireless stride to ensure that the organization runs like a smooth oiled machine. Even though being the backbone of an organization, its presence is never appreciated nor valued. A thankless job just like that of a housewife!
And hence next time you think of popping this question, even to self, THINK TWICE!