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HR Recruitment January 2010
HR News |
19/01/2010
After a stressful 2009, HR professionals were keeping their fingers crossed for a calmer 2010. However, the recent extreme weather conditions ensured that the first weeks back in the office after Christmas were as busy as ever. But this could just be a sign of things to come for HR departments, as a number of commentators have suggested that the end of the recession could be when their work starts in earnest, as firms look to them to make sure they are the in best possible position to take advantage of the economic upturn.
The recent International Human Resources Barometer survey from the Scala Group, the ACE Network and law firm Salans highlights that HR is playing an increasingly pivotal role in companies' business plans.
Some 59 per cent of UK firms questioned felt that their HR teams had been crucial in developing strategies to help cope with the recession, while 62 per cent include the HR function when undertaking top-level strategic planning.
This emphasises the value firms place on having a strong HR team in place, which could suggest many employers will be looking to boost their departments as they prepare for the upturn.
Commenting on the findings, Janice Caplan, founding partner of the Scala Group, stated: "It is pleasing to see such progress in integrating HR into key decisions. People really are our key resource, increasingly so in a 'knowledge economy' and a rapidly-changing world. Having continuous involvement of HR in strategic decisions will ensure organisations optimise those capabilities."
Academic and author Linda Holbeche has also highlighted the proactive role HR departments will have in rebuilding organisations, suggesting that it is time for HR practitioners to spend less time "worrying about their position in the board room, or their level of influence" and focus their energies on making their organisations more effective, profitable and happy places to work.
"For me, HR leadership is a mindset that is proactive, strategic and visionary, energetic and empowering," she stated ahead of a forthcoming HR Society research briefing, which she will speak at.
This is undeniably a tall order and savvy companies will be looking to snap up the most experienced and capable HR professionals who are up to such a demanding job.
The latest Monster Employment Index shows that many firms began their HR recruitment drives towards the end of 2009, with the number of positions advertised within the sector increasing by eight per cent between November and December, representing the third consecutive monthly gain.
Any firms which have not yet taken steps to bolster their HR departments should think seriously about whether their current team is capable of leading them into a more positive 2010, as it seems their competitors may be one step ahead of them.
Posted by Jon Aspinell
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