Bernard Marr recently posted an article on LinkedIn entitled “Why We No Longer Need HR Departments.” He argues that no one will ever take a business department seriously so long as it continues to refer to its people as “resources.” Marr argues that by breaking the “HR” down into a “people support team” and a “people analytics team” we can better address the specific needs of our individual employees.
What Marr fails to consider is that the “R” in Human Resources does not refer to the employees, it refers to the department. As a role, the HR manager or support staff is here to do just that-support its employees! The HR department serves as a resource for their employees. No one can justly refer to an employee as a resource. Although a name change might change the feelings and reservations many continue to have about the roles of HR in business, it is those feelings that prevent businesses from thriving and succeeding.
Perhaps an employee is having a difficult situation with another co-worker. He comes to work every day in fear because he feels he is being harassed. There has to be a resource that he can utilize…aha! The “people support team” is here to help! Let’s not forget the important role of the “analytics team”-to fill gaps in talent, how to most effectively and efficiently recruit top talent, etc. In the modern day, we call these people recruiters!
Whether the name “Human Resources” carries a negative connotation, its intentions are pure. Between HR managers, assistants, and recruiters, the ultimate goal of the HR department is to provide resources to employees and to help make their lives easier. It is also to ensure a certain level of success and balance in the work place, and to provide support when needed. Any claims that the HR department is no longer necessary are not founded on logical or practical ideas.