I Hate HR

When I first started learning about human resources, I thought that it was a buzz word. When people asked me what human resources was I explained that it was “what was formerly called personnel.” They would then understand. Oddly enough this buzz word has stuck around. What is now known as Workforce Management was once the Personnel Journal. Many personnel departments are now human resource departments. Where does that leave personnel today?

The word is now most often found next to the word “policies.” It seems the governments and some colleges are the hold out for personnel departments. But, there are a scattered few companies here and there that have retained the title of “personnel.” By doing this they are putting themselves at a disservice.

When I see an advertisement for a “Personnel Manager” or something similar, I role my eyes. This is a sign of a company that does not stay up with the times. If they can’t get the titles right, what else are they decades behind on? Who wants to work for the company that is so behind the times? Who to tell their networking contacts that they’re a “Personnel Manager” when everyone else is a “Human Resource Manager”? It’s embarrassing. It’s poor marketing.

These companies need to realize that a simple title will turn away many good candidates. Especially, the Millennials and other younger generations. The coming generations may never know that there once were personnel departments.