HR managers must change with the needs of time
Human resource managers will have to cope with changing scenarios to attract talented people, groom them and meet the company’s expectations to drive growth, analysts said recently. Several changes are taking place in the workplace around the world, said Peter Wilson, secretary general of the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA), a US-based global network of professionals in people management.
‘More and more women are joining the workforce. So, a male dominant workforce will have to make way for them. Besides, five different generations are working in the same company in the developed world because of increasing longevity — while this might be three in case of Bangladesh. So different generations might have different mentalities. HR managers will have to act as a broker in these situations,’ said the expert at the opening ceremony of the fourth BSHRM International HR Conference at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The programme was hosted by Bangladesh Society for Human Resource Management (BSHRM), which promotes the growth of human resource professionals in the country. With the fast-paced advancement of technology, people are working 24/7 and are picking up information all the time that might be helpful for the companies, said Wilson. ‘So, work life balance is a very important issue. HR managers would have to keep this in mind.’
The Australian said HR managers need to understand the expectations of modern workers. ‘They also have to embrace global best practices to ensure the best workplace for best outcomes for the company.’ Out of the world’s seven billion people, four billion are working, said Wilson. ‘But in the coming decades, many jobs will disappear. So, workers will have to be trained and educated so they can cope with any change in the future.’
During a business session of the daylong conference, Mehboobur Rahman, founder president of BSHRM, said HR directors should sit in the board room of every organisation as they are the backbone of every company. He said the demand for talented people is growing in the country, but there is a dearth of supply. ‘There might be some problem with the HR managers in terms of practice and mindset. We have a huge population and the people of the country can be trained easily.’
‘You need to educate and energise the people and enlighten the workplace,’ he said. Prof Anwar Hossain, vice chancellor of Southeast University, who moderated the session, said, ‘Although technological advancements are happening, HR managers would have to have a humane face. Otherwise, they will not survive.’
Noor Ali, managing director of Unique Group, called for setting up institutions to equip people with skills to cater to the needs of the industries. Jalalul Azim, managing director of Pragati Life Insurance Company, said the role of HR managers is vital in order to attract talented people. HR managers will have to embrace technological innovation, he added. ‘Otherwise, they will not be able to compete. With the advent of technology, the typical nine-to-five working hours are not attractive to talented people. They want flexible working hours and they want to work without coming to office.’ Sabur Khan, chairman of Daffodil International University, called for reforms in the educational system in order to prepare graduates for the challenges they face when they enter the job market.
