Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Adapting Human Resource Functions

This article relates to the human resource functionssatisfaction, or would our jobs now consist of merely
competency, commonly evaluated in employee"putting out fires" correcting problems resulting from
satisfaction surveys. It deals with employee feelingserrors in the outsourced work? We were worried. We
with regard to the quality and implementation of theunderstood the need for trimming the payroll to make
human resource role within your organization. A humanour company more competitive, but long standing
resource department that is properly informed ofpractices were deeply embedded in our psyches, and
employee issues, demonstrates a high integrity level,we were in shock.In the meeting, our director told us
and communicates effectively with staff andthat a team of training specialists would soon arrive, to
management supports a high level of confidence in thehelp us manage the transition. It was a good thing, she
company, throughout the workforce.This article,told us. Our duties would change, but we would have
Adapting Human Resource Functions, is part ofmore time to focus on company policy development
AlphaMeasure's compilation, Tales from the Corporateand implementation, training and orientation of new and
Frontlines. It comments on the changing roles of humancurrent workers. We would also be able to participate
resource departments as companies change with thefully in company initiatives designed to make us more
times.Anonymous SubmissionAdapting Humancompetitive in the current economy.As time went by,
Resource FunctionsAbout three years ago, ourwe realized that our director had been correct. In fact,
company went through major downsizing. As a careerthe change was extremely positive. We had eliminated
human resources specialist, I was skilled at performingtime-consuming clerical work that utilized only a small
a number of HR functions, including payroll, benefitsportion of our skills, and we were given training
administration, and policy development andopportunities that broadened our scope and prepared
administration. At the time of downsizing, ourus to accomplish bigger and better things for the
department consisted of ten associates, serving abenefit of our employees, our department, and the
worker population of roughly 600 employees.Afterentire company.© 2005 AlphaMeasure, Inc. - All
downsizing, we found our number cut in half. How onRights ReservedThis article may be reprinted, provided
earth were we supposed to accomplish all of ourit is published in its entirety, includes the author bio
work? We were gathered into a meeting and told thatinformation, and all links remain active.Measure. Report.
the payroll and benefits administration functions wouldImprove your organization with AlphaMeasure
be outsourced.Our initial reaction was one of disbelief.employee surveys.Josh Greenberg is President of
This was a lot to digest---big changes in a really shortAlphaMeasure, Inc.AlphaMeasure provides
period of time. Our HR department had prided itself onorganizations of all sizes a powerful web based
being highly competent. Employee satisfaction surveysmethod for measuring employee satisfaction,
had always given us the highest possible rating. Ourdetermining employee engagement, and increasing
employees valued and respected our team and itsemployee retention.Launch your employee surveys
efforts. Could we maintain that same level ofwith AlphaMeasure.