Does HR Need an Identity Crisis?
I just had the pleasure of reading Keith A. Hammonds’ 2005 cover article for Fast Company, “Why We Hate HR.” I know, I know, you are probably wondering what rock I have been living under for the past three years? In my defense, I was in graduate school then and didn’t have time—or interest—in reading about HR. Having been a business consultant advocating the outsourcing of HR for a while now, I concur with every reason Hammonds gives for the average employee’s so-labeled hatred of HR. The sad thing is, not a lot has changed since that article was written, especially in the small-to-medium-sized businesses I work with; not to mention corporate America. The solution to this corporate “axis of evil” now affectionately referred to as “HR,” is an identity change. In other words, I believe HR departments everywhere desperately need to have an identity crisis—the sooner, the better! Let’s Help HR Get Out from Mama’s Shadow So, if HR is going to get out from under its Mama’s shadow and create
