The Human Resource (HR) department serves as the bridge between a company and the general pool of workforce. The vast and diverse pool of candidates makes the role of the HR department a very crucial one. The employees they pick dictate the course of the company’s growth.
Current Practices in Human Resources
Unfortunately, it is alarming that most HR departments still employ outdated practices of hiring prospects. Many still rigidly base their qualifications on a resume, as if it says a lot about the person and how they are to perform in their job. HR personnel passes up people who may have intrinsic qualities that can be beneficial but have a less than stellar resume.
Health and Safety Consultant Robert Butchike commonly see this problem both for corporate giants and small businesses. Employee turnover is high, not because of having low morale or a problematic organizational system. Rather, it is a problem that reflects incompetent choices by the HR department.
Thus, Mr. Butchike emphasizes the importance of seeing beyond the resume and using humanity as a trait in human resources, and how it can be beneficial both for potential employees and the companies that choose to hire.
Robert Butchike Shares How Humanity In Human Resources Can Benefit the Workplace
It helps boost employee morale.
One of the strongest indicators of employee loyalty and satisfaction within their perception of morale. Morale is defined as the employee’s outlook and perception of well-being in their workplace. Employees need to feel that the company they’re working for does not only care for profits but also cares for those who work for them.
A good company considers workers as their backbone. A good example of a company that created a culture of high morale is Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A ensures that their employees are well taken care of, which in turn sends a chain reaction to their customers. The human resources department of this company presents career growth opportunities even to entry-level employees.
It helps promote a social cause.
Does your company have a social cause to promote? Whether it’s hiring people with disabilities, veterans, and other underserved groups of people, bringing humanity in your HR department can help support this inspiring cause.
According to Robert Butchike, many consumers are now socially conscious. This means that they support companies which have a good cause, or those which reflect their own values. This gradual shift of perspective is slowly transforming companies to create campaigns to show that they are socially responsible.
An example of this is the Military Spouse Employment Partnership or MSEP. Many military spouses face discrimination in the hiring process due to the job gaps seen in their resumes. To add to that, military spouses don’t have the luxury to stay in a permanent residence–they have to constantly move with their service members. Many companies have joined the MSEP to help military spouses find jobs through a non-competitive process. According to many companies, this is one way of giving back to military families that serve the country.
It can help employers see character instead of lists and bullet points.
Job openings can be a very rigid and monotonous process. HR specialists scan through resumes, hoping to find bullet points and qualifications that fit, and then they filter from there. After the filtering process, the same questions are asked, giving no time to truly know the candidates.
Imbibing humanity in human resources can help employers see the true character of their potential candidates. Instead of asking cookie-cutter questions, it can help to engage candidates in casual conversation to get to know them in a relaxed environment. When everything is rehearsed, looks can be quite deceiving. Having a natural conversation and getting to know your potential candidates in a non-structured environment helps you to see if they are truly the right fit for your company in the long run.
It can help the well-being of your company.
Humanity in human resources doesn’t just apply to potential candidates. It can also apply for people who are currently employed. Sometimes, issues that are being raised by employees aren’t heard by the higher management because the HR department fails to intervene. Sadly, this causes disgruntled employees who would rather leave than stay to resolve the issues. The HR department could do a better job in communicating employee needs to higher management.
The HR team should not be picking any sides. They should strike a balance between helping employees communicate their needs, but at the same time, having actionable steps that result in the greater good. As the HR team ensures employees that they are doing their best to help, this in turn also helps in the well-being of the company.
The benefits of having humanity in human resources go beyond this list. It is an opportunity to help others and reflect your personal values within your company.
