Human Resources professionals are often the unsung heroes of successful businesses. Tasked with recruiting the best talent and keeping a whole company connected, HR plays an integral role in ensuring a business runs smoothly and reaches its goals. With International HR Day upon us, it’s time to acknowledge hardworking HR teams the world over.
To mark the occasion, let’s explore the meaning of International HR Day, why it’s important, and what your company can do to celebrate its human resources heroes.
What is International Human Resources Day?
International HR Day is all about giving recognition to the important work human resource professionals perform while looking after a business’s most prized asset – its people.
More specifically, International HR Day is also about acknowledging the way we work is changing and the role HR plays in that changing landscape.
When is International Human Resources Day?
International HR Day falls every year on the 20th of May and this year’s theme has a tagline of “HumanifyAI: Leading Change Together”. This theme emphasises HR's role in a world of AI and recommends integrating human centric approaches and collaborative practices.
Why is International Human Resources Day important?
International HR Day is important for several reasons. Firstly, the efforts of HR departments improve working lives for billions of other employees. This positively affects employee performance, meaning businesses can perform at the highest possible level. For all businesses, their greatest assets are their people. HR just doesn't simply hire people, it provides a pathway for employees, a structure for businesses, and it shapes what the next 5-10 years would look like.
HR professionals are innovators, culture engineers, and architects of businesses. They drive compliance, they support personalised learning, and they create future leaders. The vision that effective HR professionals possess make them uniquely positioned to understand ways we can shape the future.
How your HR team can humanify AI
AI is a buzzword in many industries these days, and HR professionals are trying to ensure they prioritize human values and ethical considerations while also adopting AI for its benefits. HR professionals are also hoping to lead the change in organisations, by creating an environment that promotes flexibility, well-being, and productivity.
Here’s a shortlist of simple people management processes your HR team can follow to create an human-led, AI-supported environment that all your workers will thrive in:
✔ Recruitment and Onboarding: Implement inclusive hiring practices adopting AI and ensure that onboarding processes are inclusive.
✔ Employee Training and Development: Use technology to streamline training that promotes cultural understanding, awareness, and sensitivity. Using apps or internal systems can also simplify training and reduce manpower hours.
✔ Performance Management: Integrate AI and tech to ensure performance evaluations are conducted fairly and without bias. This can be supported by a human element to address the cultural and social nuances that AI might miss.
✔ Legal Compliance and Risk Management: AI tools can be utilised to ensure legal compliance and risk management.
✔ HR Analytics and Metrics: AI and tech can let you track metrics accurately and help you make performance management decisions.
✔ Workplace Safety and Health: AI and tech can be used to promote WHS practices and policies across the business.
The best ways to celebrate International HR Day
In the spirit of celebrating International HR Day, here are a few ways that you and your company can spotlight your HR team’s success:
1) Acknowledge and reward your HR team: It’s the perfect opportunity to acknowledge all the hard work that goes into HR. You might send a company-wide email giving recognition to your HR leaders, the team’s most effective initiatives, or even a high-performing employee.
2) Show a little HR love on socials: Much of what HR teams achieve goes on in the background. International Human Resources Day is a perfect opportunity to position their efforts front and centre. If you decide to pay tribute to the department’s work, do so on social media and inspire the larger HR community.
3) Take practical action: Make the day more than symbolic and implement practical HR improvements. Speak to your HR team and find out what changes could remove pain points from their job roles. After gaining insight, put together a plan and execute any viable improvements.
Does your business need help with HR headaches?
Peninsula helps thousands of businesses maintain happy, healthy and harmonious environments where people can perform their best work. If you need trustworthy employee relations or health and safety advice, our team members are available to help you out. Call 1300 651 415 today to get all your questions answered.