The HR Business Partner role and responsibilities are becoming increasingly strategic, as we’re HR People Partner job in the digital age and changes happen very quickly. A competent HR business partner can alleviate the stress that often falls on leadership teams by thinking strategically, planning for the future, and helping to integrate technology into the workflow. There are also cases of overlap between the two positions, and some businesses use the terms interchangeably. Many small organizations have one or two HR managers who manage every aspect of HR, from the administrative to the strategic. On the other hand, HR Business Partners often operate on a senior level as they work most closely with management and leadership.
HR Business Partner skills
“The onus to drive the change has been shifted to modern HRBPs, and they are expected to be the driver of the change that tech should bring,” notes Roy. The following model shows three different levels of HR Business Partners within the HR organization. It’s an adaption of a paper by Andrew Lambert (2009), co-founder of the Corporate Research Forum.
The HR business partner as a role and as a capability
- Today, HRBP needs to be able to read a dashboard and reports with complex data and act on that data.
- This enables them to provide valuable advice and coaching to key stakeholders.
- “In a previous role at a fast-growing startup, we recognized that turnover among new hires was increasing, and feedback indicated that new employees were feeling overwhelmed,” says Lambert.
- Technological developments require more skilled employees, but remote work has widened the talent pool.
- When this occurs, employees and leaders rely on BPs for day-to-day employee experience questions like “Is my dentist covered by our insurance?
- An HR Manager oversees an HR department, managing recruiting, benefits, and payroll administration.
A Human Resources Business Partner is sometimes responsible for hundreds of employees, and sometimes thousands depending on the size of the organization. An HR Business Partner is a Human Resources professional who actively integrates the business strategy with people management practices. The business partner is the link between HR and the business, advising and supporting managers on strategic issues and helping them implement high-performing, integrated HR practices.
Company
The HR Business Partner is a strategic liaison between HR and the business. These senior HR professionals have a deep understanding of the business and ensure that HR helps the business make an impact. Generally speaking, HR Business Partners have a more strategic focus and a broader organizational scope, while HR Generalists have an operational focus and handle day-to-day HR activities. Most companies require HRBP job applicants to have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a field related to Human Resources Management, organizational studies, or business management or administration. Depending on the organization’s location, workforce, and customer base, you might also need proof of proficiency in English or other relevant languages. They are not only a people champion and an administrative expert but also a strategic partner and change agent for the business.
This same business partner looks at the key performance indicators – how well is this manager performing? They write their notes and go into the meeting with actionable plans that are KPI-driven. A senior HR director shared a story about two different types of business partners. The first gets up in the morning, comes to work, sits down in a manager’s office with a notebook, and asks, “How can I help you today? ” The manager starts complaining, and the business partner starts writing and gets a list of tasks.