'HR professionals highly valued by employers'

by Charmaine FERNANDO

It is apparent from recent evidence that HR professionals are playing their role more effectively this time than they did in previous difficult times. In the current context it has been also evident that HR professionals are highly valued by their employers said the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker, Peter Wilson, National President and Chairman, Australian HR Institute and President, Asia Pacific Federation of HR Management, at the National HR Conference 2009 held at the BMICH, Colombo, recently.

Addressing the implications of the global financial crisis on the Human Resources and People Man agement profession, he said "It is clear that our HR practioners are playing a central role in helping their organisations manage the current economic downturn". The information gathered from research work done by him and the Australian HR Institute points out that job cuts are being viewed as a last resort act and not a 'knee jerk' reaction.

HR professionals are not only being smarter in their approaches to down-sizing but also have the courage to do it.

In addition the HR professionals encourage their employees to do the same he emphasised.

It was cited that Human Resources has always been a factor of critical importance to any organisation and to the nation as a whole.The need to manage people effectively in a market driven environment takes priority in Sri Lankan organisations. Providing the competitive edge in a globalised business scenario has been identified with human activity.

IPM in that context has been proactive to the needs of the HR practioners said Lalith A. P. Wijeratne, President, IPM, Sri Lanka.

He emphasised that in a technology driven business environment, HR is the decisive factor for the future success of an organisation. IPM takes head-on the role of developing and moulding HRM to lead an organisation towards winning challenges he said.