October is Human Resources Awareness Month in the state of Texas. This annual awareness campaign is held to highlight the strategic role HR professionals play in today’s workforce. HR employees are critical to businesses since they work with both employees and employers.
The governor’s annual proclamation pays tribute to the significant contributions HR makes toward continued economic and business success. The governor also acknowledges HR’s vital role in maximizing Texas employers’ greatest asset: its workforce. HR professionals are committed to their partnership with both workers and employers, from recruiting new talent to compliance with labor laws to educating Texans about health and safety to providing ethics training, and more.
Society for Human Resources Management
Texas has more than 100,000 HR professionals, and over 19,000 of them are involved with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Worldwide there are more than 300,000 members of SHRM who benefit from compliance resources, HR news, building connections, getting advice from senior HR employees, and having access to templates and samples for policies, forms, and presentations. SHRM also offers certification, acknowledging the importance of a well-trained and highly-certified HR department.
In Texas, the SHRM has 34 HR chapters and 33 student HR chapters. The Mid-Tex Human Resource Management Association has monthly luncheons to provide continuing education for HR Professionals. It provides a great networking opportunity for local business leaders and HR staff and provides helpful information on dealing with some of the biggest challenges that companies face regarding employee relations, benefits, and HR law, among other things.
Beyond the HR Office
The SHRM offers job listings, events, connections, and resources both to help HR professionals and future HR professionals, as well as to educate employers and other employees about the important work done by HR professionals. Frequently employees have a negative opinion of HR and only interact with HR professionals during conflict or policy issues, creating a false impression of HR’s responsibilities and duties. While employers might have a better idea of the function of HR, employees do not often have the same understanding. Events like Human Resources Awareness Month are times when employers should not only uplift their HR employees, but educate other employees about the role of HR within the company.
Although HR employees are essential year-round, having specific times dedicated to clarifying their work and importance helps make sure that all other employees are aware of what they do. It cannot be assumed that employees know what HR does on a day-to-day basis, or how they fit into the workings of the company. Human Resources Awareness Month is a reminder for employers to hold events, trainings, and appreciation gatherings to celebrate their HR employees and educate all employees on what HR does for them.
These events are also times during which HR employees can educate other employees on aspects of policy or payroll that employees might not be aware of, or might not be utilizing to their full potential. By encouraging employees and HR to interact outside of conflict or in less rigid of an environment, employers can break down internal barriers and show their appreciation for the hard-working HR office.