According to research by The European Leadership Programme (ELP), just 5% of employees recognise the role of HR expertise in business survival.
More than a quarter (27%) of those surveyed see HR as the least important skill needed by a chief executive aiming to bring their organisation through the recession intact.
Yet 42% of respondents claimed that their chief executive needs more HR support within senior management.
Does this sound as if no one knows what HR is there for? And as if no one understands HR's capabilities?
Ashley Ward, ELP's founder, says: "Organisations need to keep investing in HR. Your team may not recognise the role that HR plays within the company every day but they do recognise when it's lacking, and their motivation wanes. "
Unfortunately for the HR community, this sounds very much a case of not missing the water until the well runs dry.
