What HR Actually Does vs. What Employees Think HR Does

HR professionals play a crucial role in organizations, but there’s always a gap between what they actually do and how employees perceive them. Let’s break it down!

1️⃣ Recruitment & Hiring

📌 What HR Does:

HR professionals find the best talent, conduct interviews, screen candidates, and ensure a smooth onboarding process. They also work on employer branding to attract top talent.

🧑‍💼 What Employees Think:

"HR just posts job ads and ghosts candidates!" 👻

Many candidates feel frustrated when they don’t hear back after applying, assuming HR doesn’t care. The truth is, recruiters handle hundreds (or thousands!) of applications and work hard to balance hiring needs with business goals.

2️⃣ Payroll & Compensation

📌 What HR Does:

HR ensures salaries, bonuses, and benefits are processed correctly and on time. They also design compensation structures that align with market trends and internal policies.

🧑‍💼 What Employees Think:

"HR is secretly cutting my salary just for fun!" 💸😤

In reality, HR spends a lot of time ensuring accuracy in payroll, adjusting for tax changes, and advocating for fair salaries—often behind the scenes!

3️⃣ Employee Engagement

📌 What HR Does:

HR organizes team-building activities, recognition programs, wellness initiatives, and employee feedback surveys to create a positive work culture.

🧑‍💼 What Employees Think:

"HR only cares about birthday emails and surveys nobody reads!" 🎂📩

While engagement activities may seem trivial, they help improve morale, reduce turnover, and create a stronger company culture.

4️⃣ Policy & Compliance

📌 What HR Does:

HR implements policies that protect employees and the company, ensuring compliance with labor laws and ethical standards.

🧑‍💼 What Employees Think:

"HR makes up random rules just to make life harder!" 🚫📜

In reality, HR works hard to create policies that promote fairness, prevent legal issues, and maintain a healthy work environment.

5️⃣ Conflict Resolution

📌 What HR Does:

HR mediates disputes between employees, teams, and management to ensure a positive work environment and fair outcomes.

🧑‍💼 What Employees Think:

"HR always sides with management!" 😡👨‍⚖️

While HR does work closely with management, their goal is to resolve conflicts fairly and create a balanced workplace.

6️⃣ Performance Management

📌 What HR Does:

HR helps employees grow through feedback, training, and career development programs. They also design performance evaluation systems.

🧑‍💼 What Employees Think:

"HR just calls people into meetings for bad news!" 📉😓

The reality? HR wants to see employees succeed! They provide coaching, mentorship, and learning opportunities to help employees advance in their careers.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, HR is here to support employees and build a great workplace—but we also know we’ll always be the villains in some stories! 😆