{"id":411,"date":"2019-07-26T17:29:33","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T17:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=411"},"modified":"2024-04-24T23:18:19","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T23:18:19","slug":"why-it-matters-the-role-of-human-resources","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/chapter\/why-it-matters-the-role-of-human-resources\/","title":{"raw":"Why It Matters: The Role of Human Resources","rendered":"Why It Matters: The Role of Human Resources"},"content":{"raw":"<h2>Why\u00a0discuss the importance and the role of human resources management?<\/h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-564\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4056\/2019\/07\/30181312\/conference-room-768441_960_720-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A conference room with floor to ceiling windows on two walls. There's a table in the middle of the room with about 16 chairs.\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" \/>\r\n\r\nHuman Resource Management as a practice has evolved dramatically over time. Prior to the emergence of modern human resource management, personnel management tasks were primarily administrative and HR staff were not considered part of senior management. In fact, this struggle for credibility and the associated goal of winning a \u201cseat at the [leadership] table\u201d still resonates for many. Since the early 1900s, HR\u2019s stature and the complexity of HR roles has grown with new legislation and changes in associated business practices. Financial risk\u2014for example, the cost of human resource management mistakes\u2014play into this dynamic as well, with judgments having both a brand and business impact. For example, here are a few statistics compiled by SHRM:[footnote]\"<a href=\"http:\/\/elitehrteam.com\/highcostofnoncompliance.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The High Cost of Non-Compliance.<\/a>\" Elite HR Team. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote]\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Negligent Hiring\u2014$2,500,000.<\/strong> Judgement against an employer for an attack on a customer by the company\u2019s deliveryman who had a record of assault and battery convictions.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>National Origin Discrimination\u2014$18,000,000.<\/strong> Awarded to four former managers of a convenience store chain found to have discriminated on the basis of national origin.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Disability Discrimination\u2014$7,100,000.<\/strong> Total of compensatory and punitive damages awarded to an executive fired one day before he was scheduled to be released from an outpatient alcohol rehabilitation program.<\/li>\r\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)\u2014$775,000.<\/strong> Settlement of a claim against a retail chain for creating a \u201cracially hostile\u201d work environment in one of their stores.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nNavigating a landscape that is continuously evolving is not for the risk averse. HR management must not only ensure legal compliance but preside over socio-cultural conflicts. This is especially true as employees increasingly expect\u2014indeed, demand\u2014employers to take a stand on contentious issues. With globalization and employee diversification, the workplace is increasingly a place where religion, business and culture collide.[footnote]Lucas, Suzanne. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/suzanne-lucas\/ikea-poland-fires-man-for-anti-lgbt-posts-could-you.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IKEA Poland Fires Man for Anti-LGBTQ Posts. Could You?<\/a>\" Inc. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_563\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"400\"]<img class=\"wp-image-563\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4056\/2019\/07\/30180153\/800px-Equality_March_in_Warsaw_Poland_2018_05-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"A crowd of people with large rainbow flags marching down a street in Warsaw, Poland.\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" \/> 2018 Equality March in Warsaw, Poland.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nCase in point: An IKEA employee in Poland who objected to the company\u2019s recognition of \u201cPride\u201d Month, a celebration of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender &amp; Queer) people, citing his religious beliefs. IKEA reported that the employee, who posted his comments on the company intranet, \u201cused quotes from the Old Testament about death and blood in the context of what fate should meet homosexuals.\u201d To put this in context, <em>Time<\/em> reports that Poland, one of Europe\u2019s most Catholic countries, ranks 27 out of 28 European Union states when it comes to equality and non-discrimination.[footnote]Roache, Madeline. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5619660\/lgbt-rights-poland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Poland is Holding Massive Pride Parades. But How Far Have LGBTQ Rights Really Come?<\/a>\" Time. July 3, 2019. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote] Politicians backed the dissenting employee, arguing that international values are not Poland's values. Additional context: IKEA\u2019s values include \u201cleadership by example,\u201c \u201cdaring to be different\u201d and \u201ctogetherness and enthusiasm.\u201d Complicating matters, IKEA\u2019s values pages includes this statement: \"Throughout the years, IKEA has stood by a set of values that affect the way we work. These values are as important at an IKEA store in Ireland as they are in a photo studio in Sweden or a distribution centre in China.\u201d[footnote]\"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ikea.com\/ms\/en_US\/the_ikea_story\/working_at_ikea\/our_values.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Do You Share Our Values?<\/a>\" Ikea. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote]\r\n\r\nGiven this, what\u2019s the appropriate HR\/business response? (Spoiler alert!) Refer to HR writer and speaker Suzanne Lucas\u2019s <em>Inc.<\/em> article \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/suzanne-lucas\/ikea-poland-fires-man-for-anti-lgbt-posts-could-you.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IKEA Poland Fires Man for Anti-LGBTQ Posts. Could You?<\/a>\u201d for analysis and watch news coverage for how the company\u2019s decision plays out.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">HR management requires an ability to not only live with uncertainty and manage risk but also to facilitate culture and technological change\u2014along with associated mindset, skill set and structural changes\u2014to ensure continued business viability. For perspective on the challenge, a recent survey of HR professionals found that only 37% of HR leaders are very confident in HR\u2019s ability to transform the workplace and itself. Dow Chemical Company SVP of HR Johanna S\u00f6derstr\u00f6m captures the current state of HRM in her observation that, \u201cHR teams need to become \u201ccomfortable being uncomfortable\u201d in today\u2019s disrupted environment.\u201d[footnote]\"<a href=\"https:\/\/advisory.kpmg.us\/content\/dam\/advisory\/en\/pdfs\/hr-survey-2019-exec-summary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Future of HR in 2019: In the Know or in the No.<\/a>\" KPMG International. Accessed July 29, 2019.[\/footnote] In this module, we\u2019ll discuss human resources as a practice and a career, as well as the factors and trends shaping the evolution of HR.<\/span>","rendered":"<h2>Why\u00a0discuss the importance and the role of human resources management?<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-564\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4056\/2019\/07\/30181312\/conference-room-768441_960_720-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"A conference room with floor to ceiling windows on two walls. There's a table in the middle of the room with about 16 chairs.\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Human Resource Management as a practice has evolved dramatically over time. Prior to the emergence of modern human resource management, personnel management tasks were primarily administrative and HR staff were not considered part of senior management. In fact, this struggle for credibility and the associated goal of winning a \u201cseat at the [leadership] table\u201d still resonates for many. Since the early 1900s, HR\u2019s stature and the complexity of HR roles has grown with new legislation and changes in associated business practices. Financial risk\u2014for example, the cost of human resource management mistakes\u2014play into this dynamic as well, with judgments having both a brand and business impact. For example, here are a few statistics compiled by SHRM:<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"&quot;The High Cost of Non-Compliance.&quot; Elite HR Team. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-411-1\" href=\"#footnote-411-1\" aria-label=\"Footnote 1\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Negligent Hiring\u2014$2,500,000.<\/strong> Judgement against an employer for an attack on a customer by the company\u2019s deliveryman who had a record of assault and battery convictions.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>National Origin Discrimination\u2014$18,000,000.<\/strong> Awarded to four former managers of a convenience store chain found to have discriminated on the basis of national origin.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Disability Discrimination\u2014$7,100,000.<\/strong> Total of compensatory and punitive damages awarded to an executive fired one day before he was scheduled to be released from an outpatient alcohol rehabilitation program.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)\u2014$775,000.<\/strong> Settlement of a claim against a retail chain for creating a \u201cracially hostile\u201d work environment in one of their stores.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Navigating a landscape that is continuously evolving is not for the risk averse. HR management must not only ensure legal compliance but preside over socio-cultural conflicts. This is especially true as employees increasingly expect\u2014indeed, demand\u2014employers to take a stand on contentious issues. With globalization and employee diversification, the workplace is increasingly a place where religion, business and culture collide.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Lucas, Suzanne. &quot;IKEA Poland Fires Man for Anti-LGBTQ Posts. Could You?&quot; Inc. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-411-2\" href=\"#footnote-411-2\" aria-label=\"Footnote 2\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_563\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-563\" class=\"wp-image-563\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4056\/2019\/07\/30180153\/800px-Equality_March_in_Warsaw_Poland_2018_05-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"A crowd of people with large rainbow flags marching down a street in Warsaw, Poland.\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-563\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">2018 Equality March in Warsaw, Poland.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Case in point: An IKEA employee in Poland who objected to the company\u2019s recognition of \u201cPride\u201d Month, a celebration of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender &amp; Queer) people, citing his religious beliefs. IKEA reported that the employee, who posted his comments on the company intranet, \u201cused quotes from the Old Testament about death and blood in the context of what fate should meet homosexuals.\u201d To put this in context, <em>Time<\/em> reports that Poland, one of Europe\u2019s most Catholic countries, ranks 27 out of 28 European Union states when it comes to equality and non-discrimination.<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"Roache, Madeline. &quot;Poland is Holding Massive Pride Parades. But How Far Have LGBTQ Rights Really Come?&quot; Time. July 3, 2019. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-411-3\" href=\"#footnote-411-3\" aria-label=\"Footnote 3\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[3]<\/sup><\/a> Politicians backed the dissenting employee, arguing that international values are not Poland&#8217;s values. Additional context: IKEA\u2019s values include \u201cleadership by example,\u201c \u201cdaring to be different\u201d and \u201ctogetherness and enthusiasm.\u201d Complicating matters, IKEA\u2019s values pages includes this statement: &#8220;Throughout the years, IKEA has stood by a set of values that affect the way we work. These values are as important at an IKEA store in Ireland as they are in a photo studio in Sweden or a distribution centre in China.\u201d<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"&quot;Do You Share Our Values?&quot; Ikea. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-411-4\" href=\"#footnote-411-4\" aria-label=\"Footnote 4\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Given this, what\u2019s the appropriate HR\/business response? (Spoiler alert!) Refer to HR writer and speaker Suzanne Lucas\u2019s <em>Inc.<\/em> article \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/suzanne-lucas\/ikea-poland-fires-man-for-anti-lgbt-posts-could-you.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IKEA Poland Fires Man for Anti-LGBTQ Posts. Could You?<\/a>\u201d for analysis and watch news coverage for how the company\u2019s decision plays out.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">HR management requires an ability to not only live with uncertainty and manage risk but also to facilitate culture and technological change\u2014along with associated mindset, skill set and structural changes\u2014to ensure continued business viability. For perspective on the challenge, a recent survey of HR professionals found that only 37% of HR leaders are very confident in HR\u2019s ability to transform the workplace and itself. Dow Chemical Company SVP of HR Johanna S\u00f6derstr\u00f6m captures the current state of HRM in her observation that, \u201cHR teams need to become \u201ccomfortable being uncomfortable\u201d in today\u2019s disrupted environment.\u201d<a class=\"footnote\" title=\"&quot;The Future of HR in 2019: In the Know or in the No.&quot; KPMG International. Accessed July 29, 2019.\" id=\"return-footnote-411-5\" href=\"#footnote-411-5\" aria-label=\"Footnote 5\"><sup class=\"footnote\">[5]<\/sup><\/a> In this module, we\u2019ll discuss human resources as a practice and a career, as well as the factors and trends shaping the evolution of HR.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-411\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Why It Matters: The Role of Human Resources. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Nina Burokas. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Equality March in Warsaw, Poland 2018. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Klarqa. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Wikimedia Commons. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Equality_March_in_Warsaw,_Poland_2018_05.jpg\">https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Equality_March_in_Warsaw,_Poland_2018_05.jpg<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Untitled. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Free-Photos. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Pixabay. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/conference-room-table-office-768441\/\">https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/conference-room-table-office-768441\/<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Pixabay License<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section><hr class=\"before-footnotes clear\" \/><div class=\"footnotes\"><ol><li id=\"footnote-411-1\">\"<a href=\"http:\/\/elitehrteam.com\/highcostofnoncompliance.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The High Cost of Non-Compliance.<\/a>\" Elite HR Team. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-411-1\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 1\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-411-2\">Lucas, Suzanne. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inc.com\/suzanne-lucas\/ikea-poland-fires-man-for-anti-lgbt-posts-could-you.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IKEA Poland Fires Man for Anti-LGBTQ Posts. Could You?<\/a>\" Inc. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-411-2\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 2\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-411-3\">Roache, Madeline. \"<a href=\"https:\/\/time.com\/5619660\/lgbt-rights-poland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Poland is Holding Massive Pride Parades. But How Far Have LGBTQ Rights Really Come?<\/a>\" Time. July 3, 2019. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-411-3\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 3\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-411-4\">\"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ikea.com\/ms\/en_US\/the_ikea_story\/working_at_ikea\/our_values.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Do You Share Our Values?<\/a>\" Ikea. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-411-4\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 4\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><li id=\"footnote-411-5\">\"<a href=\"https:\/\/advisory.kpmg.us\/content\/dam\/advisory\/en\/pdfs\/hr-survey-2019-exec-summary.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Future of HR in 2019: In the Know or in the No.<\/a>\" KPMG International. Accessed July 29, 2019. <a href=\"#return-footnote-411-5\" class=\"return-footnote\" aria-label=\"Return to footnote 5\">&crarr;<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":17,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Why It Matters: The Role of Human Resources\",\"author\":\"Nina Burokas\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Equality March in Warsaw, Poland 2018\",\"author\":\"Klarqa\",\"organization\":\"Wikimedia Commons\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Equality_March_in_Warsaw,_Poland_2018_05.jpg\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Untitled\",\"author\":\"Free-Photos\",\"organization\":\"Pixabay\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/conference-room-table-office-768441\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc0\",\"license_terms\":\"Pixabay License\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"3ef19df0-efd4-4f40-b872-c5f9bd7dc345","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-411","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":403,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3285,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/411\/revisions\/3285"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/403"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/411\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=411"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=411"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-humanresourcesmgmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}