Hear hear
A message from our CEO, Peter Cheese: There have been recent articles questioning the value of the profession. The CIPD’s role as a professional body is to uphold standards and to make the case for the value of the profession. We are proud of the profession and our membership, knowing the positive impact that HR brings to individuals and organisations - enabling businesses to thrive through their people. HR’s dual responsibility to align with business objectives while being a voice for the workforce presents unique challenges. Criticisms often stem from this balancing act. The profession is at the heart of decisions that shape lives and careers — who to hire, who to progress, and how to support people during challenging times. These decisions are complex and invite criticism from all sides. Yet, they are fundamental to organisational success and individual well-being. The role of HR professionals is vital, even if not always fully appreciated or understood. These are people doing important work in challenging situations. Recent critiques fail to acknowledge the evolution of HR. The profession is no longer limited to administrative functions; today’s professionals are key to realising business priorities, driving performance, skills development and transformation. These are not just HR agendas but core business imperatives. The profession has adapted to meet the challenges of a changing world — from navigating pandemic-related upheaval to a changing technological and socio-political landscape. HR is a driver of productivity. Research links effective people practices to better business outcomes. Productivity in the UK is influenced far more by systemic issues like underinvestment in skills, management capability and technology and the CIPD is a leading voice in influencing policy improvements in these areas. The profession plays a crucial role in helping organisations address these challenges, offering insights into culture and performance that are essential for long-term success in organisations large and small. The profession is adapting to changing business needs and is constantly improving. Whilst more can be done, professionals are consistently finding ways to simplify processes, align more closely with business outcomes, and ensure that managers are equipped to lead effectively. We continue to work with the profession to improve working practices and make sure they are aligned to the context of their organisations. Over the coming months, we have a series of activities planned to amplify the voice of the profession and further demonstrate its value. This will include sharing the story of HR’s evolution over the years and its vision for the future, further improve our practical tools to empower people professionals to make a positive difference, and launching a campaign to highlight the transformative impact HR has on organisations and their success. #CIPD #HR #PeopleProfessionals #CIPDmembers #BetterWork