But new technology, diverse business models and different approaches to employee relations mean that the role is becoming more complex and challenging.
This means modern HR professionals need a specialised skillset that allows them to play a central role in the success of a business.
With that in mind, here are five dynamic roles for your HR department.
- Challenging management
Whether you’re an employee or a manager, HR isn’t your friend.
The department should operate with a focus on the best outcomes for the business, which requires both diplomacy and neutrality.
And that means being brave and doing the right thing when it comes to taking employee complaints about serious issues like gender discrimination seriously.
There are suggestions that inaction on the part of HR might have played a part in alleged inequalities at Microsoft — for which the software giant is facing a large class action lawsuit.
- Enabling cultural change
HR has become increasingly involved in attracting and retaining talent in organisations.
And that’s an impossible task without ensuring that positive culture has been embedded or a decaying culture is dealt a death-blow.
Cultural change is driven from the C-suite and relies on engagement throughout the ranks.
But HR can play a crucial role as cultural guardians who promote and monitor values-based behaviour from executive to entry-level positions.
And tech can help too — human resource software from SD Worx can automate admin tasks to free up time for employee engagement activities and provides a deeper dig into staff absence and wellbeing data.
- Uncovering talent
Office politics and inadequate systems often mean organisations fail to identify and develop high-potential employees and even promote those who are least able.
And rigid hierarchies combined with an inflexible approach to managing workloads makes discovering hidden superstars even tougher.
But HR can be proactive in stopping the rot by ensuring clearer criteria for promotions are set and introducing systems that assess performance objectively.
- Designing the workplace
As well as promoting a positive work culture, HR can take a leading role in ensuring the physical work environment is functional and makes employees feel calm and comfortable.
As a department that’s already adept at communicating with employees at all levels, HR can make sure that employees’ views are taken into consideration for major refurbishments.
This type of project can also break down barriers and make employees feel much more engaged and valued.
- Embracing neurodiversity
While some welcome progress has been made in increasing cultural, ethnic and gender diversity in the workplace, some organisations struggle to embrace neurodiversity in employees.
But by better understanding the complexities of dyslexia, ADHD and autism, an organisation can support staff and understand the unique strengths workers with these conditions bring to the right job roles.
So HR should be central in driving and monitoring all types of inclusion organisation-wide.
These five dynamic roles make HR a more interesting career path than ever.
Does your HR department play any of these roles? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
