Human Resources: Added Value

Introduction

Adding value to the workplace is an important aspect of not only the Human Resource department, but that of managers and supervisors. Both HR and supervisors have a distinct aspect on the quality of life of employees; therefore, it is vital that both HR and supervisors work together to improve the quality of life. Employees need to interact with both supervisors and HR when discussing aspects such as grievances, evaluations, retirement benefits, labor disputes, and worker compensation. Supervisors and HR need to provide quality and correct information to employees. Supervisors and HR can not contradict each other when providing information to employees. Information such as time frames, status of paperwork, and benefits allowed have to be consistent or the employee will lose faith in HR and his supervisors.

Training supervisors and HR personnel together can help accomplish this. Conducting role playing scenarios with HR and supervisor can helps both parties understand how vital their role is to their employee's quality of life. This training also creates synergy, communications and teamwork between HR and supervisors. As supervisors and HR personnel work together to tackle bigger problems, their relationship and communication will grow, hence their ability to tackle even bigger problems will grow. Maxwell (2005) states the five ways to keep cultivating important relationships as:

1.
Commitment
2.
Communication
3.
Friendship
4.
Memories
5.
Growth

While Maxwell focuses on the personal aspects of these five traits of cultivating a personal relationship, these traits can be applied to the business world. HR and supervisors can build a commitment to their employee's quality of life. Supervisors and HR can improve and maintain their communication between each other. Through this relationship they may or even could become build a respectable business relationship (friends). Both supervisors and HR build memories (experiences) of past accomplishments. Through building positively on past experiences (both positive and negative experiences) both parties will grow.