Create conducive atmosphere - HR Practitioners
The Institute of Human Resource Practitioners has urged members of the association to adopt more innovative ways to help create a congenial environment for workers.
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The association said times had changed, and there was the need for its members to move away from the old ways of doing things.
Old system
The President of the institute, Mr John Wilson, who made these remarks, said the public always saw HR practitioners as those who recruited employees.
He was speaking at the 2nd Annual People Challenge Summit for HR and Industrial Relations (IR) practitioners in Accra on Wednesday.
The two-day forum brought together HR and IR practitioners to learn innovative ways of meeting the growing demands of the public.
According to him, HR practitioners have been perceived by employees as those who usually serve the interest of management, noting that the notion is inimical to the growth of the profession.
“Globally there is a changing trend in HR. As a practitioner, you must strike a balance and ensure that you serve the interest of management and employees,” he stressed.
Current trends in HR practice
Mr Wilson indicated that the current trend in the profession was such that practitioners had to manage their internal and outsourced workforce, to ensure that both parties’ interests were met.
He indicated that practitioners were expected to manage temporary workers, contract workers, contingents as well as permanent workers.
He called on members of the fraternity to embrace and exploit technology, as a major driving force in an organisation.
That, he said, would help practitioners equip themselves with much knowledge about the current trend in the profession.
He argued that it was imperative for the HR practitioner to equip himself with much knowledge, and sell the company to the outside world, adding, “you are the ambassador of the organisation.”
“You must equip yourself with enormous knowledge in technology such that you can win the confidence of the chief executive officer of the organisation. By this, they can trust whatever you say without imposing decisions on you,” he emphasised.
Theme of forum
Speaking on the theme, “Changing trends, challenges and maintaining relevance in the dynamics of business,” Mr Wilson called on practitioners to build the capacity of their employees and utilise their talents to move the organisation forward.
Mr Wilson charged members to plan strategically to meet the growing challenges on the job market.
Minister of Employment
For his part, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Nii Armah Ashitey, commended the organisers of the programme for their efforts towards building the capacity of HR practitioners in the country.
Commenting on the Single Spine Pay Policy (SSPP) structure, he said through the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, government had migrated about 100 per cent of public sector workers onto the pay policy.
However, Mr Ashitey said the level of productivity was low, and called on workers to put in much effort to raise it in order to help the country to achieve the required development.
In spite of the challenges the SSPP had brought, he noted that government was determined to reduce it in order to ensure sustainability of the pay policy.
He acknowledged the relevance of HR in organisations, and the major role it played to ensure the success of organisations in the country.
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In an interview, the CEO of Capital Group, Mr Samuel Adetola, added his voice to the call on HR practitioners to adapt to changes in their organisations, saying that change was an aspect of life that could not be relegated to the background.
“The corporate world has witnessed significant changes over the past decade and as such professionals must keep abreast of the latest developments in their area of practice,” he said.