The HR function has undergone a number of changes and has significantly evolved over the years. However, it hasn’t exactly been able to wash off its negative image of being the police department of an organization. A recent survey clearly pointed out that the modern employee doesn’t trust the HR department and sees it in a largely negative light. Let’s look at how employees see the HR department in a bit more detail below.
They’re Not There to Protect the Employee but the Company
Well, the secret seems to be out. Most employees are able to see through the facade and see the HR department for what it really is. The company would like you to believe that HR is there for the benefit of the employees and will address their grievances or issues at work, but most employees recognize HR as the henchmen for the bosses. They see them as executioners of the senior management’s “not so employee-friendly” tasks and policies, such as cutting people out.
They Are Detached from the Employees
Employees see the HR department as being detached from the workers and their issues, tucked away in a distant office, cooking up nefarious plans against them. This way of thinking naturally breeds distrust in employees, and they feel that the HR department can’t understand their concerns.
They Are Considered Incompetent and Bureaucratic
A modern employee largely sees HR as an incompetent department, responsible for bringing in a lot of red tape. When employees visit the HR for guidance or help, they find them to be untrained and lacking experience. The common perception is that “HR doesn’t know what it’s doing.”
HR Values Policies over People
The modern employee sees HR as more concerned about the policies than the humans that make up “human resources.” Employees lament the fact that they are seen as just another resource and not as a human. This mindset is strongest when the company finds someone better (and accepting of a lower paycheck) and replaces an older employee.
HR Is Involved in Office Politics
The modern employee sees HR to have a more than significant role in office politics. The employee grieves the fact that HR lets office politics dictate their dealings with them. This really affects how employees see the HR department.
Furthermore, an employee’s job title and position may also influence HR’s behavior, and this doesn’t sit well with the employees who see them as suck-ups to the executives.
They Focus on Petty Issues Instead of the Genuine Problem
The modern employee sees HR to be a department that only focuses on petty issues such as not carrying ID cards or following the dress code at work. Issues such as high employee turnover and dwindling employee morale at work are seen to be ignored by the HR while employees see them focusing on less important issues at work.
If you want your business to minimize employee turnover, increase employee morale and have your workforce achieve peak performance levels, in addition to avoiding the above mistakes, inclusive employee benefits are something you should consider in today’s environment. Schedule a meeting with any of the specialist consultants at JS Benefits Group to find something that best suits your needs.
