HR is not dead. Period.

Someone asked me the other day, how long I have been wearing glasses. When they asked me, they couched the question by asking, "how long have you been blind?" At first I did not know what they meant. (I am not actually blind in the sense of visually impaired.) Since there was not a great deal of pretext to the question, my mind wandered quickly and I started thinking metaphorically. My response was for "as long as I can remember."

Then I realized they were talking about my glasses and I then responded with a proper answer of "since I was a teenager."

But I was left with the residue of this conversation, and I have been wondering, am I really blind? Metaphorically speaking.

I believe the answer is yes in the sense that I am unaware of so many things. And that I cannot possibly know it all. Especially when it comes to HR matters. Sometimes this is frustrating to me. I am a Generalist by nature so I feel compelled to stay abreast on every HR topic, which is exhausting. In fact, I just found out about HRevolution and bummed that I found out too late to make arrangements to go. Other things I do know but still have difficulty understanding. H1N1 for example. I am very tuned into the concern that people have about this. But I am having a difficult time sorting through what appears to be a great deal of media noise & the emotional reaction this is causing.

The point is everyone I have ever known in HR has knowledge gaps. There is nothing wrong with this. But because by nature, HR folks are an introspective bunch. We know that we set example. We are watching ourselves as much as we watch others. Hence we are naturally more self critical. Which brings me to the real topic.

Why must we go so far as to flog ourselves with these blog postings about HR being dead? First this is just overdramatic. Secondly I don't know of any other department in any company that I have worked that ponders it's own relevance as much as HR. Third if you really believe HR stands for Hardly Relevant, than you have lost sight.

HR is a fundamental part of every organization. We are not lawyers, but we can counsel on what is appropriate behavior and steer employees away from harassing and being discriminatory. We are not their mothers, but we are the most sympathetic and unconditional ear. We are not psychologists, but we know how to mediate and to read tell-tale signs. We are not economists, but we understand the most costly part of a business...its people.

(to be continued...)