Can HR Bring Filipinos to Higher Ground?
By Jhoanna Cruz
“Uplifting lives of Filipinos” was the core theme of the 58th People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Annual Conference held last July 28–30, 2021. On the third day, a townhall meeting was conducted to synthesize insights and knowledge among the esteemed panelists and attendees.
On the panel were Grace Abella-Zata, President of CESI Group; Engelbert T. Camasura, CEO of HRTX Inc.; Cecille Huidem, Chief Human Resources & Administration Officer of Malayan Insurance Company, Inc.; Socorro B. Suarez, Individual Member of PMAP; Pryncess Hyacinth Esguerra, Director for Human Resources of Robinsons Land Corporation; and Luis Gian Paolo O. Mapa, Chief Learning Engineer of LinkOD — SeeWorthy International.
During a critical juncture in the labor industry, HR was thrust into the center of things — from safety regulations, health protocols, and business continuity — to maintaining a healthy and engaged workforce as a reliable business partner of business leaders and owners.
According to data collected by Howspace, an AI-powered digital facilitation platform used by PMAP during the three-day conference, the HR community is looking forward to a government where leaders and citizens of our nation work together to improve both education and healthcare systems. HR professionals can advocate change by providing employees with learning opportunities to develop skills and competencies for career advancement — a true commitment to uplifting lives.
To be more concrete on this commitment, the panelists suggest that HR should build stronger relationships with chief finance officers who are now redefining a strategic finance that invests in technology and infrastructure. HR can add value to the organization by helping create a workplace mindset that is open to change, reinforcing new leadership styles to strengthen organizational capability with focus on employee well-being.
The panelists also highlighted that while the hybrid work setup is becoming a norm, the whole gamut of performance, retention, well-being, and engagement should still be in the center of human capital. HR should go beyond HR and display empathy, promoting malasakit, not only within industry organizations, but also in the communities we serve. HR’s strengths such as organizational skills and people enabling can bring people together and accomplish something worthwhile.
HR has shown effectiveness in being crisis leaders during this pandemic and it’s now HR’s time to stay ahead of the curve. HR should be in the battlefield — know the challenges, resolve issues, and become navigators in ensuring workforce readiness physically and psychologically. If all in the HR community can share best practices whether to small, medium, or large enterprises, it will be a strong push to uplift the industry.
What critical roles should HR play in the new normal? PMAP recommends that HR should promote agility and empathy, provide guidance in knowing the future, appreciate business, assist in change management, and most importantly, build people culture that puts people first in mind, first in heart.
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About the author:
Jhoanna has always believed that a little help goes a long way — bridging people to their chosen careers that can help them achieve their goals. A caffeine-induced night owl, K-drama fan, aspiring baker, plant mom, florist, and a new fur mom too!
