Let’s talk people! Or why we don’t say ‘HR’

Noticed Proud doesn’t like the term HR? Let me explain the reason for that below. 

Proud is here to help ‘’HR’’ departments and Business leaders to empower their employees to the fullest. I however don’t like the term ‘’Human Resources’’ because employees are people, not resources.

Furthermore, we all know by now that it’s the people that work with us who can make or break our business success, so let’s start with people, then business! 

That’s why Proud refers to People professionals and People leaders as their target audience. 

Cause it’s all about people!

Also, did you ever notice the way employees talk when they mention the HR department? ‘’Yeah, I know, it sucks, but it’s a policy set by HR…’’ (emphasizing the word HR with a face as if they just took a big bite from a lemon while expecting it to be an orange). 

 

”Did you ever notice the way employees talk when they mention the HR department? Emphasizing the word HR with a face as if they just took a big bite from a lemon while expecting it to be an orange.”

I therefore do encourage the more traditional HR departments to reconsider how they want to call themselves, but not only that. I believe that for most HR departments it is extremely valuable to also rethink their mission and purpose within the organization. 

We all see that the world we live in – and thus our world of work – is rapidly changing. But what does HR People do to facilitate these changing business needs? 

Most traditional HR departments are not set up to facilitate today’s businesses and more importantly, the people that are supposed to be successful within these businesses. 

Old ways of working and traditional HR policies that often try to put everything and everyone in boxes, don’t longer work and even worse, stand in the way of the progress and change that leaders, employees and the HR department are so desperately trying to make. 

And don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to step on the toes of anyone working in HR. I am one of you. I know that you have the best intentions but I also know from experience, as a former CHRO, how complex the current people challenges and necessary changes are. 

That’s why I started Proud, to focus purely on that what people in today’s and future organization really need. To help those organizations, that no longer look at employees as resources that should be exploited, but as people that should be empowered! 

‘’Proud is here for HR People professionals & Business People leaders.’’

Written by Siri
Siri Wouters is the founder of Proud - the people company. Proud is on a mission to create healthy, inspiring and empowering workplaces.

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