Sakib Khan

Ever got that blank stare from people when you tell them that you [actually chose to] work in HR? I know I did. Not once, but many times. Some people apparently had hard time reasoning it.

But I don’t blame them. The kind of reputation that HR carries, it’s not surprising at all. After all, to this date, most people that work in HR have not actually ‘chosen’ it, rather ‘fell’ into it. What a shame.

So why exactly is this image problem? What makes HR errm…..not a sexy profession?

The reason is a combination of many. Starting from a not-so-positive perception of HR as a mere ‘clerical’ department to HR’s downright failure to blow its own horn.

Historically, HR – the once so-called personnel department, has been viewed as a support function which is infamous for draining company money, instead of generating. This view is strongly prevalent till to this day and HR’s apparent inability to translate their business decisions into cash flows is still fueling this perception.

Moreover, by its very nature, HR is positioned into middle of controversies. HR’s notorious role of firing employees, dealing with sensitive matters of reward and recognition, performance management, promotion, grievance, breaking ‘bad’ news etc. are to name a few of the everyday decisions that effect employees directly, and in many cases negatively.

Sometimes within the organization an ‘us vs. them’ mindset grows where HR is perceived as management’s ‘partner in crime’. They are viewed with cynicism and consequently, fail to gain the much needed trust and support of the employees.

Many regard HR as a passive element in the organization which fails to take proactive role. HR is perceived as an unattractive function that works in the background and is rather bureaucratic in nature. Some are not even sure what HR really does. I had people asking me what we do as HR professionals and whether we do anything other than interviewing people.

So what’s the way out? How can HR gain the reputation and credibility that it deserves? Is there anyway for HR to position itself at the heart of organizational and business activities? It’s high time we ‘genuinely’ start thinking and doing something about that.

Photo credit: Natashavora

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