Keeping the “Human” in Human Resources

We’ve all experienced disconcerting automation in this digital age of online communication as companies look to technology to automate administrative tasks.

Organizations struggle at times trying to marry the benefits of streamlining corporate systems while trying to keep, and enhance, personal connections with their employees at the same time. This is particularly important for HR departments as the scope of their responsibilities, as well as their impact in the long-term health of the organization, intensifies.

“When I started in HR, it was understood that you were going to work with people,” explains HR Executive Liz Ryan in “Getting HR Back into the People Business.” “Nowadays, HR people tell me that the process parts of their jobs are the only kind of work they’re allowed time for and the only kind leadership values. What we are left with is a massive engine that’s called HR, with parts and pieces to process job seekers, new employees, benefit plan members, compensation plans subjects, and other categories and file folders of people. That’s people processing. That’s not HR, not in my book.”

Try keeping the “human” in human resources through intuitive interfaces that deliver personalized information – from virtually anywhere at any time – via multiple means of communication. Sound like a lot to ask for? It’s not with the right HR Shared Service System that provides HR professionals, managers and employees with easy access to forms, corporate policies and procedures, and the ability to quickly address any HR issues they may have – including scheduling desired meetings with HR professionals to discuss any challenges or questions in person. A well-implemented HR Shared Services Solutions frees up time HR personnel spend on administrative tasks – so they can focus on personal interactions as well as the long-term health and growth of the company.

In her column “The Top Ten Ways to Retain Your Great Employees,” About.com’s HR Expert Susan M. Heathfield, states that retaining valued employees “ensures customer satisfaction, product sales, satisfied coworkers and reporting staff, effective succession planning and deeply embedded organizational knowledge and learning.” Implementing an HR Shared Services Solution offers a firm a way to streamline and automate HR administrative processes, and focus on their most valuable asset – their people.