Beginning in the 1980s, there was a push for strategic initiatives within HR departments. This movement was based on research related to the impact of employee-related issues on a firm’s long-term business success.
Collectively, these strategies are sometimes referred to as human resource management (HRM) strategies. HRM is a comprehensive approach to managing employees and an organization’s culture and environment. It focuses on the recruitment, management, and general direction of the people who work in an organization.
An HR department that adopts HRM strategies typically plays a more active role in improving an organization’s workforce. It may recommend processes, approaches, and business solutions to management.
Google is one example of an organization that has adopted a more active approach to employee relations through its HR department. The company offers many employee perks, including on-site wellness centers, on-site meals and snacks, fitness centers, massage programs, and ergonomic support.2 For Google, happy employees are equivalent to productive employees.3
David G. Collings, Hugh Scullion, and Paula M. Caligiuri. “Global Talent Management,” Chapter 5. Routledge, 2019.