Is Outsourcing HR Functions a Good Practice or a Threat to HR Jobs? Let's Discuss!

Hi, I am a new member here. I am a MSW (HR) student. Recently, we had a discussion in class about outsourcing of HR functions. People came up with different views. After the discussion, I still felt that even though this method is efficient and less time-consuming for HR, is it really a good practice? Functions like wage and salary administration, training, recruitment, etc., are the core jobs of HR. If they are outsourced, doesn't it result in downsizing of the HR department in the organization? These are just some things I wondered about. I would appreciate it if you could give me your perspective :)

Greetings,

I understand your concern regarding the downsizing of the HR department. However, I disagree with you as HR fundamentally serves as the think tank of the organization. Therefore, segregating repetitive tasks would enable HR to concentrate more on development. I refer to an article titled "Which Jobs Risk Outsourcing." This concept holds true for every job regardless of its function. If a role does not require on-site delivery and can be easily trained, it is likely to be outsourced. This trend has been observed across nations, industries, and job functions.

[Another Look at Offshoring: Which Jobs Are at Risk and Why? - Harvard Business Review](http://hbr.org/product/another-look-at-offshoring-which-jobs-are-at-risk-/an/BH178-PDF-ENG?Ntt=Martin+Stack)

This shift would lead to the emergence of more specialized verticals within HR. Currently, HR generalists naturally progress into HR specialists. Therefore, as HR outsourcing becomes more established, it will create additional opportunities for professionals to specialize within HR verticals.

I hope this answers your question. Please feel free to reach out if you require further information.

Regards,

(Cite Contribution)

Thank you for taking your time to reply to my question. I think I have a lot of groundwork to do to learn about outsourcing. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.