Every September 26th is observed as Human Resource Professional Day. This holiday honors the people who often go unnoticed and don’t receive the accolades they deserve in the corporate world. These individuals have decided to dedicate their careers to improving work conditions within an organization and to better their fellow workers.

Human Resources, also known simply as HR, is an important part of any company. HR allows for proper talent acquisition and retention, employee development and training, and performance management. It also deals with conflict resolution within the organization. Of course, we will explore each of these points more closely as we examine this holiday in greater detail below.

The History of Human Resources Professional Day

The concept of human resources management has been present throughout human history, but it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the field of HR officially took the shape that we recognize today.

So, modern HR departments have only been around for a little over a hundred years now. That didn’t surprise us when we learned that fact. What surprised us was that a holiday dedicated to them wouldn’t be developed until quite recently.

Human Resource Professional Day was only invented in 2013 by Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen of the Governor-General’s Office of Jamaica. The holiday has, of course, been observed ever since by organizations around the world, but it’s surprising that it took so long for it to be created in the first place.

Key Reasons Why HR Departments Are Important

Let’s take a quick look at some of the reasons why HR Departments are important for any organization. This will allow everyone to fully understand why they should be observing this holiday every year when it comes around.

Talent Acquisition and Retention

Human Resources is often tasked with identifying the skills and qualifications needed for certain positions in an organization. They also often conduct interviews and make hiring decisions.

Employee Development

HR is responsible for deciding on the level of training needed for each position. They do so by designing and implementing training programs. In doing so, they promote a culture of continuous learning and help improve employee loyalty and engagement.

Compliance with Laws and Regulations

Another thing that HR does is ensure that organizations are complying with employment laws, ethical standards, and regulations. They establish policies and procedures and implement fair employment practices as well.

Observing Human Resources Professional Day

This holiday can be observed in any number of different ways. Organizations can host public lectures that will allow their employees to learn more about their HR Departments. Employers and other employees can also take the time to thank the people who work in their HR Department. People can also spread the word about this holiday online simply by using the hashtag #HumanResourcesProfessionalDay.