In the past, business leaders have often thought of human resource (HR) specialists as the professionals that ensure that all staff members comply with organizational policies. The role of the human resource specialists has also typically been associated with administrative duties, such as gathering, filing and storing paperwork, and they have traditionally worked in establishing and enforcing company regulations. In part, this is because the human resource role frequently originated from administrative or finance departments. This is logical, as responsibilities such as payroll, hiring and benefits lie in the scope of those business units.

Also read: The Role Of HR Analytics In Workforce Planning

Today, the HR executive role is shifting to align with more forward-thinking practices. Modern human resource executives must contribute ideas and lead organizations in advancing corporate objectives. Additionally, HR executives must grow and change in parallel with their respective organizations. This is especially vital, as large enterprises grow nimbler and consumer-centric. The following 7 passages reveal a few of the relatively newer responsibilities of human resources executives in the modern work environment.

Responsibility 1: Participate in Planning and Development

In the modern marketplace, human resource executives serve as strategic partners. They participate in the identification, development and execution of corporate objectives. In this capacity, HR executives align the work of their business unit to achieve company goals. The participation in company planning allows human resource leaders to gain a profound understanding of the organizational activities needed to aid in the sustainable growth of the enterprise.

Responsibility 2: Provide Employees With Career Assistance

Periodically, human resource leaders conduct staff member evaluations. Today, HR professionals take an active role in helping employees advance their careers. Instead of simply grading employees on a checklist of performance points, modern human resource specialists help workers identify areas for improvement and develop specific action steps.

By helping employees with career development, modern HR professionals gain deeper insight into available human capital and the availability of internal candidates for potential role succession. This helps organizations gain a marked advantage in filling future roles and meeting forthcoming market demands.

Responsibility 3: Find and Recruit Employees That Advance Company Objectives

Today’s human resource executives do more than post ads and interview job candidates to fill open positions. Modern HR executives formulate employer brands designed to attract the right job candidates.

In this responsibility, human resource leaders work to promote their respective firms as highly favorable workplaces. HR executives often earn this kind of accolade for organizations by creating a positive culture and providing satisfactory compensation and benefits as ways to attract ideal work candidates.

Responsibility 4: Serve as Leaders of Change

Modern human resource leaders frequently lead change initiatives for their organizations. As a result, current HR executives yield strong project management skills in their corporate toolboxes. The professionals are skilled at helping organizational stakeholders make the connection between change initiatives and strategic needs, minimizing change resistance and employee unrest.

Shaping organizational culture, managing staff member satisfaction and weighing the success of change initiatives are all a part of the human resource professional’s scope of responsibility in the modern workplace.

Responsibility 5: Advocate for Employees

While fulfilling their roles as employee advocates, HR executives play an integral part in the success of organizations. In this regard, human resource professionals contribute to building a work environment where employees feel satisfied and motivated.

To promote this outcome, HR leaders deploy effective practices such as employee empowerment, goal setting and open communication, resulting in a positive culture that leads to the workforce delivering better consumer experiences.