People Operations

CHAPTER 2So Long, HR

Almost everything about work has changed radically, from the relationship between a company and its employees, to the importance of culture and the employee experience, to the technology revolution. We're living in a new world.

But most business leaders and human resource professionals acknowledge that the traditional approaches and practices for managing the organization's most vital asset haven't kept up. Most agree that the function of HR itself needs, not just to evolve, but to radically change in order to meet the needs of the twenty‐first century.

This has put the role of HR in hot debate. Many ask, why do we still call the department responsible for its people human resources? How often do we refer to people as humans or resources anyway?

Before we fly forward, let's take a quick step back.

Quick History of a Controversial Topic

Where did HR even come from? What's its purpose?

The “personnel” department was a product of the industrial revolution in the early 1900s. Initially dubbed “industrial and labor relations,” HR was created as an intermediary between management, workers, and labor unions. It helped companies oversee work conditions, hours, and activities in accordance with emerging regulations.

From the get go, there was a fair share of contention. Factory supervisors and owners didn't understand the connection between working conditions and improved productivity. But personnel professionals did. They tried to get managers to follow procedures ...