I recently read an article about ‘what you don’t know about your HR department’ that got me a bit fired up. The position that the writer took was that your human resources professionals in your businesses essentially are there to plan parties and that they aren’t able to act as a confidante in any way and in so many words indicated that we can’t be trusted. As an HR professional, I found this perception of human resources to be insulting, inaccurate and incorrect.

My reaction to the article prompted me to then write my own perspective on ‘What you need to know about your HR department’ or an HR professional that you have hired or intend to hire as a consultant for your business. Here are my Top 5 things that you perhaps don’t know about your HR professional:

1. HR Professionals are business people
Human Resource professionals are highly educated individuals that have not only earned a place at the executive table, they deserve one. We are accomplished, business savvy individuals that have insight and value into the overall operation of your business model. If you are to examine any organizational strategy, at the heart of it lay people and HR is there as a strategic partner.

2. Many of us don’t enjoy planning staff parties
“But HR always plans the party!” is a familiar battle cry in organizations. News Flash – most of us don’t like it!! We enjoy going to the party just like you do, but do you honestly think we have as much fun as you? We are too busy making sure everyone is having a good time, the DJ plays the songs everyone likes, the prizes are handed out fairly…you catch my drift? The staff party is a work day for us and sadly, blame gets put on us when things go wrong.

3. We are trustworthy
Employees tend to unload a lot of their personal problems onto their HR professional and we don’t mind. We are there to help you and offer tools and resources to assist you with any issues that you may be experiencing. While one of our focuses is on creating an engaged workplace, and with that comes handling workplace concerns, we are there to lean on for personal concerns as well. We do, however, have to balance the needs of the organization with that of the employee. At times, the information that is shared with us has to be shared with other managers if there is concern for the wellbeing of others in the workplace. This does not mean that we are not trustworthy or looking out for your best interest. Don’t come to us and tell us that someone is stealing from the company but that you don’t want us to do anything about it, because that won’t happen!

4. We work just as hard as you do
HR departments and professionals are often criticized for not working as hard as others in workplaces. This is a misperception of the area of human resources. We have significant responsibilities to make our areas work and interconnect with all other functional areas within organizations. If you think that the HR department just sits around and comes up with fun workplace stuff, think again! We are budgeting, counselling, administering benefits, coaching, training, planning strategically…the list goes on.

5. Lastly, we don’t terminate people
Many times in my 15 years working in human resources, I have heard this phrase – “Yeah, I just got fired by HR.” Do you know how frustrating that is for HR professionals to hear that? WE weren’t the ones that couldn’t arrive to work on time for shifts, WE weren’t the ones that got caught taking money from the till, WE weren’t the ones that failed to perform the duties and responsibilities of the job, and WE weren’t the ones that demonstrated misconduct. HR doesn’t terminate people – people terminate themselves through their inability to meet the expectations of their job. Now, there are cases where individuals are terminated in their jobs due to restructuring or downsizing in organizations and HR is involved with that. We do not relish the fact that we are involved in changing the course of someone’s career but I go back to my first point in that HR professionals are business people and ultimately, decisions (no matter how tough) sometimes have to be made in the best interest of the business.