Eight Reasons We’re Thankful for HR Professionals

Turkey time means it’s time to give thanks for the unsung heroes of all great organizations: the HR professionals. Here are eight reasons that we’re thankful for the HR pros in our lives.

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You’re Team Builders

You know how to craft a perfect recruiting message and you represent the company at conferences, career fairs, and across the web. You find the absolute best talent that’s out there and you bring them in the door. You pore through hundreds or thousands of resumes until you pinpoint the perfect hire, understanding how the new addition will fit into the big-picture goals of your organization. And once the new hire starts, you make sure they feel welcome and have an easy transition into the team.

You’re Culture Builders

You help to craft policies that shape company culture and you’re a pro at communicating—and exemplifying—organizational values. When you hire someone, you know that they’ll be a great fit for your company’s existing culture and will make a positive impact on the team in the months and years ahead.

You’re Multi-Talented Multi-Taskers

You wear many hats as an HR professional, but you make it look easy! You understand payroll, insurance, and compliance laws, and you’ve mastered the chaos that is open enrollment. You organize training programs and patiently walk employees through new software they don’t understand. Sometimes you’re called on to mediate, other times you’re called on for advice, and other times you’re just there to listen.

You Keep Us Competitive

You keep tabs on the competition, analyzing compensation and benefits trends to make sure your organization can attract top recruits and keep your top performers in-house.

You Hook Us Up with Great Benefits

You understand that compensation goes beyond an employee’s salaries. You help to organize and monitor unlimited PTO, holiday, work-from-anywhere, and parental leave policies. You do the legwork to keep your office dog-friendly. You promote wellness programs like gym memberships, on-site yoga classes, and nap pods. And you ensure that the vending machine is always stocked with an assortment of healthy snacks.

You Help Us Give Back

Employees want to work for companies that prioritize corporate responsibility. The Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends report found that 76% of Millennials believe that organizations should be a force for positive social impact. As HR professionals, you understand that employees want to give back to the community and work for a greater purpose, so you help to organize volunteer events, fundraisers, and partnerships with charities.

You Make Work Fun

You promote that healthy work-life balance and find ways to keep the office environment light and friendly. You organize game nights, potluck meals, interdepartmental competitions, happy hours, catered lunches, and more—all in the spirit of making your office a place where people want to be.

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You’re Selfless

You put the organization’s goals and mission above your own department’s needs. You understand what’s best for the team and work tirelessly to make it happen. That’s why you deserve a seat at the table as a strategic partner.