Sure enough, I had earned a Bachelor’s Degree
in the
Management of Human
Resources (MHR)!
Various alumni newsletters had been warning for some time
that future study of this curriculum was going to result in a Bachelor’s
of Business Management instead. Alas! Somebody, if only my alma mater,
had discovered that human resources could not be managed (at least not easily)!
Back when a staid set of expectations and principles were
applied to the inexact science of HR, the term HR administrator was used. The
next buzzword to come along was HR director (which always conjured up a picture
in my mind of a harried individual shaking their apron while running after a
bunch of loose chickens).
Semantics aside, just think about the burgeoning industry
throughout North America intent upon providing much needed solutions to every
aspect of personnel. Payroll, employment staffing and benefits administration
are merely three of
many designed to assist those in charge of efficiently
maintaining an HR department, regardless of which title you should choose to
give them.
How can one determine the actual cost of these various types
of unburdening? In most cases the price is paid in actual administrative dollars.
But, in the case of employee recognition programs, the price is often paid in
loss of control and personal contact.
Despite the many advantages indigenous to employee recognition
programs, HR professionals just don’t have the time to give these yearly
service award programs the consideration that they not only deserve but also
demand. No wonder many employers take the path of least resistance—giving
cash—which has been documented to be the least effective and shortest lived
form of appreciation.
By the time you read this, HR professionals within
driving distance of your retail store will be embarking upon yet another calendar
year. Most importantly, many of them will still not have a clue about
Only
enough tea remained to brew one cup, so I vowed to make it a big one. Hence,
I needed to locate my highly coveted, oversized blue ceramic coffee cup that
announced to anyone within view that I indeed was a MHR Graduate from Spring
Arbor College!
Years ago, I relentlessly pursued this degree three nights
each week after work. Now, while looking at the cup, I couldn’t even recall
for what MHR stood!
Certain that I had not achieved a Master’s Degree, but confident that I
had indeed studied Human Resources, it was the letter “M” throwing
me off.
With my last ration of tea slopping around inside my trophy,
I made my way down the hall and into the study to see if possibly my diploma
could provide a clue about the “M”.
what you could do for them.
Set aside some time during your slow season to make a few
phone calls. Remember, time spent with one customer often yields the sale of
one item. Time spent with a HR executive yields multiple items, in addition
to just as many
new customers!
