WHAT MAKES EMPLOYEES DISTRUST HR ?

Let's hear the bitter truth from their experiences !

" Where is the human face of the human resource department?" says an employee who has worked in three organizations so far.  

" It's a mechanical function. I don't even know what HR department can do for me, besides the annual birthday wishes they send," says a woman executive.  

" The most common employee gripe? HR speaks a language other employees don't understand. I get traumatized by words such as competency, change management, paradigm, bell curve, KRA," says a marketing executive in a Gurgaon-based firm. 

For a business function that's supposed to make the lives of employees better, HR isn't likely to win any inter-departmental popularity contests. What makes employees distrust HR? And what can be done to make HR popular? 

Bimal Rath, former HR head of Nokia and founder of leadership and talent consulting firm Think Talent Services says HR does need to look inwards to see why it is so "criticized". Does it have real empathy or has it got caught in the processes and paperwork? " Indians grow up in a caring environment and expect somewhat similar treatment at work. HR is expected to be a torchbearer of employee issues and has perhaps neglected this aspect by becoming a bit too mechanical," Rath reasons. 

Another senior executive asserts that HR itself is not clear about its role. HR is a bridge between the management and employees. The problem starts when HR either becomes management-driven and the employees do not trust it. Or when HR becomes too employee-centric and management begins to distrust it? " he suggests. 

At MphasiS, HR head Elango R acknowledges that HR needs a little of spit and polish job. He is working at it. Some time ago, Elango realised that some employees really did not easily comprehend the "competency skill matrix" part of their hiring, training, appraisals. He then came up with an alternative that was easy for everyone to understand. "We now call it 'what does it take to get the job done chart'," 

It's all about keeping it simple and relevant. That's probably the first step for HR if it wants employees to love it a little more.