The HR conundrum
By Dhaval Valia
Where are the people? That's the biggest question confronting all of us today. Leave alone people with good skill-sets, its becoming increasingly difficult to even get average people with satisfactory work ethic.
This has become a regular conversation with every one I meet these days, whether the vendor, distributor or the solution provider.
Solution providers consistently complain of the 'big fish eat small' syndrome that is affecting them the most. Big vendors and system integrators are poaching skill-sets from small companies and these small companies are poaching people from firms smaller than them.
Lack of adequate skills is leading to substantial business loss and many solution providers say that if there is one issue that would decide their future survival, it is HR.
While the enormity of the HR challenge is understood by most companies, only a few are actually doing something about it. Most companies don't even have an HR department in place. It also seems that many have simply given up. For them hiring and retaining staff with the right skill-sets is a no-win game, hence they are compromising on the quality of people hired, probably with the notion that it's easier to retain below-average employees.
Now this is hardly the way to counter a critical challenge. What channels need to do is get innovative with their HR. Having a trained HR person is necessary. Forecasting and planning for HR requirements is another area that needs attention.
So how does one counter the issue? There are no easy answers. Every organization has to realize that people are the heart of its business, and this requires a complete change of mindset. Sometimes, countering a challenge is all about doing the most fundamental thing. For instance, you could start by forecasting your HR needs well in advance, budgeting for hiring and retention, and providing basic employee benefits.
Why not also look at outsourcing some of the HR functions? There are several agencies which provide payroll, employee performance management and talent retention services. Outsourcing has clear costs and deliverables, and is an option channels need to explore.
Let me know what you are doing to ensure your future survival. |