Shocking Conviction: How a Trade Union Leader's Crime Impacts HR Today

Significant News Update: Trade Union Leader Convicted

Please find attached the Hindu Paper news article regarding the conviction of a Trade Union leader for the murder of an HR Professional. This information is significant for understanding current trends in the industry.

Regards,
Ram K. Navaratna
HR Resonance

Thanks for the share. This really forces me to question: Are HR practices safe enough, especially in industries where unions prevail? Perhaps the fear created by such incidents (like the one shared, the fate of HR at Maruti Suzuki last year or so) prevents young professionals from taking up IR or HR-related jobs in the manufacturing sector where unions prevail.

The increasing concern is, are we doing anything to prevent it? If someone is not performing the job and HR confronts the same, is it HR's fault? Or is it their duty to report the righteous? How often do we fail to realize that HR also has their own limitations and are bound by their duties that ought to be performed.

Just food for thought.

Let us be frank. HR is always the fall guy in times of crisis when an IR issue heats up. Till then, many other individuals would have messed it up. The management would have neither bothered to consult HR nor listened to it. At the crucial juncture, HR is all alone facing a hostile opponent. For an ordinary worker, anyone standing between him and the achievement of his needs/demands is a villain. So, the visible villain standing before them at the time of crisis will be HR. At that time, neither the management nor the worker will help HR. Physical security cannot give a 100% guarantee. Therefore, at such crucial periods, the only persons who can help are the Union leaders. Hence, HR should gradually cultivate some reliable union leaders at different levels of hierarchy so that they will help at the time of crisis. It is only such goodwill and personal relationships that will save HR directly or indirectly at the time of need.

HR or IR jobs are still good ones. The most important skills required for HR/IR practitioners are human relation skills. If employees, including union members, can be approached professionally, I believe there is nothing to fear. The case of a trade union leader murdering an HR professional is an isolated one. I suggest that HR practitioners engage more with trade unions, especially before making major decisions that affect workers.

We need to listen more to their grievances and concerns. If workers are aware that HR/IR managers are fair, just, and have the workers' interests at heart, they will accept management decisions.

Regards,
S. Ponusamy