Another week, another report claiming the death of the HR function as we know it.
The latest culprit is consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in its Key Trends in Human Capital report, which claims the future of the profession is in doubt, and its reputation and status in rapid decline.
The report states that while HR is not exactly drinking in the last chance saloon, it is perhaps sipping a glass of chilled wine in the bar next door. Senior executives are increasingly recognising the competitive advantage to be gained through people, the report says, and are therefore taking more of an interest in ‘HR stuff’ than ever before.
The rush to outsource transactional HR work continues and the demands on the function to be more accountable in measuring the value it adds to the business seemingly grow month-by-month.
To be fair to PwC, the report does say this scenario shouldn’t be seen as all doom and gloom. In a sense, the environment is positive - a point well made by Linda Holbeche, the CIPD’s research and policy director.
She says that just because HR cannot be pigeon-holed as once before, and is now carrying out a variety of roles, does not mean the function is in trouble. Essentially, it is a time of great opportunity rather than looming danger.
But haven’t we been here before? Personnel Today has reported many times of the need for HR to up its game, starting measuring what it does, demonstrate the impact it has on the bottom line. How much longer can the talking go on?
What is concerning about the PwC report is that the conclusions are based on a huge survey of global chief executives. They are questioning whether their HR functions are up to the challenge of delivering this ‘people agenda’ - their number one priority.
Now the profession must provide the answers.
