Our world is changing – we’re more digitally connected, the competition for finding the right candidates is steep and HR pros have a more challenging and exciting job than ever before. Just how much has HR evolved over the years?
First, it’s important to know that the management of people, or human capital, has been happening for centuries. In a number of ways, human resources management has been around since as early as the 1400s, they just didn’t call it that, nor would we follow the same practices they used then.
British Industrial Revolution, 18th Century
This is the first time we really start seeing early versions of HR practices we use today. As the country saw a boom of industrial inventions and processes, companies were hiring thousands of employees who were working roughly 16 hour days. Naturally, these employees were not happy with the workload and the environment, thus their productivity was poor. We know that happy, satisfied employees are the key to productivity and high-quality work. Bosses started implementing voluntary programs for their employees to increase their comfort and satisfaction, much like many programs implemented today.
Personnel Management, Early 20th Century
In the early 20th century, the Personnel Management teams were launched at many companies. At this point, they were mostly in charge of compliance with new laws and managing safety programs. The second major development came around World War II when the army developed several training programs for new soldiers. This idea of Training Departments caught on as part of the Personnel Management team.
Human Resource Management, The ‘70s
The Personnel Department turned into the HR Management Department with the rise of new technologies and globalization. As companies grew, the HR department began organizing processes for hiring and onboarding new employees. These practices are more like what HR does today. Practices included leadership and succession plans for employees and the company to ensure the future of the business was on the right track. Productivity is still an important function of HR, but HR managers now are also focused on making sure employees feel comfortable and respected at work.
Human Resources Today and Beyond
Today, HR is a major function for businesses. The HR team is responsible for working with senior leadership to determine open positions and job descriptions, recruit for those roles, complete onboarding and integration into the company, get them settled into training and leadership development programs and more. The way HR managers have done these processes has evolved. Technology has made an HR manager’s job easier; they can more easily search online for qualified talent, scan resumes for keywords, use videos and online guides to train employees and more. Looking to the future, HR will need to keep up with the competitive talent market and be even more resourceful. One great way to find talent quickly is by partnering with a staffing firm, like Alliance Solutions Group.
Adapting and changing with the times is a vital skill for HR departments to acquire. If you’re looking for extra help finding top talent for your company, contact one of our recruiters today!
