The Art and Science of Human Resources

Human resource departments have long played a critical role in the business world by managing the living, breathing capital that makes up the soul and character of an organization. They will continue to do so during these challenging times. However, shifting cultural norms, new technologies and a stubborn global pandemic have made it more pivotal than ever before.

Workplace culture and employee options have changed considerably over the past two years. Remote work and flexible schedules offer a new set of challenges, including attracting and retaining top talent. Many workers have reevaluated their roles and careers, leading to the so-called “Great Resignation.”

To keep pace, “HR professionals have had to adjust quickly on multiple fronts, leading to new strategies that are here to stay,” said Kristy Miller, instructor for the Human Resources Management certificate program and regional HR director for Lennar, the nation’s largest homebuilder company located in Irvine.

“The biggest lesson that we’ve learned is that we can affect change very quickly. We were forced to shift the way we work in such a rapid way that it is now expected that we work this way moving forward. Twenty years ago, human resources was more static and structured with defined, siloed roles. Now we must be more flexible, improvise, adapt, create more processes, and invent new roles. A good example is COVID management.

HR positions require a more strategic approach throughout an organization, with HR becoming more involved in day-to-day business operations. Miller added, “We need to be more business-aware. Leaders in human resources need to be strategic and gain greater knowledge of what’s going on with every vertical in the organization, including sales, operations, finance and how they interact with one another.”

“As HR evolves into more a strategic business partnership role, companies are going to rely on it more and more. This will create more opportunities in just about every industry.”
Kristy Miller, HR Management Instructor

Flexible and supportive

With remote and hybrid work here to stay, a flexible mindset is essential for HR departments in today’s global community. Long gone are the days of a full-time office staff working five days a week onsite. That means top talent is no longer confined to their local area when it comes to career options, creating a much more competitive recruiting environment.

HR professionals need to be more agile in order to accommodate various types of workers; full-time, part-time, gig workers and independent contractors brought in to handle specialized tasks for short or long-term assignments. And that’s to say nothing of managing shifting pandemic logistics.

“I would say flexibility is the number-one consideration for success in human resources today, followed by the need to foster a positive and inclusive culture,” Miller said. “Company culture must be supportive, inclusive and altruistic for all employees. New technologies like Zoom can be so isolating, it creates a greater need for more human, soft skills like communication and interpersonal skills.”

All of these changes have elevated HR to an art as well as a science, she added. Her own experience reflects the shifting role of HR professionals and the many hats they need to wear in order to adapt to an ever-shifting landscape.

“I’ve developed processes, people and leader skills, and continue to transform those processes with the changing times,” she said. “I’ve developed a team remotely and managed the team in a virtual setting for nearly 21 months. In addition, I’ve managed the increased administrative burden of spreadsheets for COVID exposure and testing.”

Because of COVID concerns, HR has incorporated health resources into its expanded role, responsible for implementing CDC guidelines in managing exposure risks, cleaning protocols and staggered onsite schedules. Miller’s company even brought in a Chief Medical Officer to help set COVID protocols.

With so much uncertainly in the world, a supportive culture includes a greater focus on helping employees maintain mental and emotional health. Miller notes that there has been an increase in requests for short-term leaves of absence, not only for self-care but to tend to family members.

“More and more people are needing to devote time away from work to address these circumstances. As an HR professional we need to rely more on our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits to be more of a partner for our employees. Examples are bringing in EAP professionals to offer seminars on mental health, parenting and mindfulness.”

Supporting employees’ mental and emotional health creates a happier, more focused, and productive workforce. It’s essential to raise awareness of these issues and eliminate any stigma attached to them.

“It is mostly preventative,” Miller said. “It will help to bring awareness to underlying issues that an employee might be having. This allows them to recognize it earlier before it becomes a more serious problem.”

A real-world education

Highly regarded by regional employers for its real-world focus, the Human Resources Management certificate program covers the most current practices and functions in the field. Students are provided all the knowledge and skills required to succeed as an HR professional in a wide range of businesses and organizations.

Led by expert instructors, the curriculum strives to give students the hands-on experience needed to jump into this evolving and much in-demand role, equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge on new technologies, staffing, employee relations and more.

“The certificate program is relevant to current themes,” Miller said. “The program coursework that we professionals in the field bring provides real-world examples and topics you don’t get in traditional theory-based curriculum. It allows students to set their finger on the pulse of the industry they are pursuing.”

Human resources is one of the most coveted roles in virtually any industry, with nearly 600,000 job openings cited in the most recent Emsi survey, and 10% growth projected through 2029. Median salary is around $60,000 with seasoned pros earning over $100,000.*

“I see so much opportunity for those that are experienced HR professionals and new career HR professionals,” Miller said. “As HR evolves into more a strategic business partnership role, companies are going to rely on it more and more. This will create more opportunities in just about every industry.”

Learn more about the Human Resources Management Certificate Program.

*Source: Emsi Burning Glass - economicmodeling.com