When it comes to Human Resources, there are a lot of stereotypes out there. Some people think that HR is all about Employee Relations and compliance. Others think that HR is just a glorified administrative position. And still others believe that Human Resources is only concerned with benefits and payroll. The truth is, HR does all those things and so much more!

What else does HR do?

Human Resources also plays a significant role in organizational strategy and development. They help create company policies and procedures, set goals for the organization, and work with senior leadership to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Additionally, HR provides guidance on compliance issues and makes sure that the company is following all applicable laws. HR moreover works to ensure that the company culture is healthy and thriving. A strong company culture can attract and retain top talent, provide a sense of community for employees, and improve workplace satisfaction. In addition, diversity and inclusion are important priorities for many HR departments. By promoting a diverse workforce, companies can improve employee morale and create a more inclusive environment. Lastly, HR professionals are often key in supporting employees during challenging times or transitions and assist in recruiting new talent and keeping existing ones.

The role of the HR department and its executives continues to evolve and is nowadays more complex than ever before. Increased demand in the workplace, technological advances and many other factors affect most aspects of modern HR management.

Five common myths about HR

Myth 1: They Only Focus on the Company

Reality: Human Resources is indeed ultimately responsible for maintaining the company’s values, and has to take compliance, budgetary needs and strategic goals into account when managing competing views and needs. However, in doing so they also strive to make sure that employees are treated fairly.

Myth 2: They Don’t have sufficient Business and Data knowledge

Reality: HR professionals play a vital role in organizations by being strategic partners to leadership and using data analytics to identify interventions. They have become increasingly data-driven in recent years, which has helped them play a more active role in solving organizational problems. To be truly effective, HR professionals must have strong business acumen and be literate in data analysis. With these skills, HR can successfully contribute to the organization and help it achieve its goals.

Myth 3: They are All-Powerful when it comes to making decisions about employees.

Reality: Organizational change, terminations, and layoffs are all difficult topics that HR typically leads. However, it’s important to remember that HR is only as powerful as the executive management allows it to be. In these discussions, HR’s role is to provide advice. By ensuring everything is in order, they can help make these difficult transitions a little smoother.

Myth 4: They don’t care about addressing employee complaints.

Reality: Employee complaints are important to HR, even if they seem minor. Communication problems can lead to bigger issues, so it’s crucial that documented investigations are conducted in order to find a resolution. This process involves active listening, to ensure that employees feel heard. Follow-up is also important, so employees are kept in the loop about what steps have been taken and where the investigation stands.

Myth 5: Anyone can do HR.

Reality: Not anyone can “do” Human Resources. If you want to be successful as an HR professional, you’ll need to have a few key skills under your belt, like business acumen, data literacy and ability in one or more HR functions. But that’s not all – you also have to be great with people, good at communicating and managing your time effectively. This field is all about continuing to develop these abilities and picking up new ones along the way.

Why does HR need to get rid of these Stereotypes and how can they do so?

It’s vital for HR to want to get rid of these stereotypes because:

• They give HR a negative image and discourage people from wanting to pursue a career in HR.
• If employees only hear negative talk about HR, this will prevent them from trusting the department, and therefore any issues they may be dealing with will remain unattended.
• HR can be a valuable strategic business partner to an organization; however, these stereotypes hinder the collaboration between them, the employees and leadership and thus prevent HR from being as successful as they can be.

What can HR do to counter these stereotypes?

• HR can actively seek out constructive and honest feedback from employees about how they see them and what they do. They then also need to act based on that feedback and show employees that they are valued.
• Encourage new and advanced skills in data literacy, leadership, communication, and any other knowledge areas.
• Make sure that all employees know who the HR department is and what their role is, both with regards to the organization and to the employees.
• Promote a healthy balance between representing the organization and being an employee advocate. This will help ensure that HR is able to function effectively and efficiently.
• Practice consistent, effective and clear communication.

In closing, HR plays a crucial role in businesses, but unfortunately it often comes with a side of outdated beliefs and stereotypes. However, these shouldn’t stand in the way of showing everyone how important HR is to an organization’s health and success. Take action by trying to change people’s mindset about HR!