Putting the human touch back in HR

I'M pretty certain no one starts off disliking the HR department. Like many things, this sort of sentiment usually builds up slowly before it hits you all at once.

Perhaps it's not their fault they have a hand in almost all things in the workplace, beginning with those that we care most about - like hiring, firing, promotions and bonuses - to all kinds of other trivial issues, such as putting up signs in the toilets telling people to flush.

HR is of course an easy scapegoat when it all goes wrong, as they are often the bearer of bad news and the doer of all kinds of thankless tasks.

But as the face of the company, and a crucial touchpoint between staff a…