The HR Function is Not Dead

As a founder, you might wonder if you really need the HR in your company. Afterall, is there anything that the HR does beyond hiring and firing? Let us dig deep into why the HR should be one of the first hires in a startup. But if you are not founder. I suggest you still read to appreciate the functions of HR before you roll your eyes at them.

The one with tons of Paperwork:

Thanks to HR, we're all spared from drowning in a sea of policies and compliance documents. Imagine if every manager and employee had to tackle all that paperwork themselves! It would be like a never-ending maze of legal jargon. Instead, HR swoops in to ensure everyone's on the same page with things like antidiscrimination laws, medical leave, parental leave, and all those federal and state regulations.

The good cop , the bad cop:

The HR is often known as the bad cop - asking tough questions about company spends or being rigid about enforcing policies or even firing the employees. While this might make you turn a corner from the HR department, remember that the HR is looking out for the employees and the company in general. Afterall, it is better to have one department responsible for tough decisions than have it fall on the shoulders of managers or company founders.

The Looming Fear:

Just the mention of a performance review enough to send shivers down anyone's spine. And who is the unfortunate one to be responsible for that? The HR department. They're the ones behind the scenes, analyzing performance through self-assessments, peer evaluations, and manager feedback. It might seem scary, but it's all in the name of recognizing hard work and helping employees grow.

The Fun One?

Before you question whether the HR can be actually fun, remember that it is the HR that plans the company events and parties and makes those beautiful 'rangolis' that make unmemorable days memorable. Also remember that the HR defines the company culture. And while most of us believe that good culture = free lunch (which is great), company culture goes beyond that. It is about enhancing employee experiences, fostering open communication, promoting transparency which makes it an organization a great place to work and reminds founders what values need to be upheld.

The Real Deal:

Let's give a round of applause to HR for making sure paydays are the real deal. They're the ones behind the scenes, preparing payrolls so that everyone gets their hard-earned paycheck on time. Without them, there'd be no end-of-month celebrations at our favorite restaurants or timely rewards for all our hard work.

So, the next time you see someone from HR, give 'em a high five. They may be the ones with tons of paperwork, but they're also the ones keeping the workplace running smoothly and making sure we all feel appreciated. Cheers to HR!