What Are the Biggest HR Challenges in a BPO? Insights from an Executive's Experience

Problems & Challenges Faced by the HR Executive - Recruitment at Present (2015)

I need to submit an assignment based on this topic. I had a telephonic interview with an HR Executive and collected a few pieces of information regarding the challenges he faces in his organization. It is a BPO company located in Chennai. The company's name is kept confidential.

When I asked him about the challenges he faces in his day-to-day work as an HR executive, he said:

General Challenges:

- "Ethics and values" is one that is very difficult for him to establish in his organization. Merging individual ethics with the company's ethics is a task.
- Developing a "work culture" and insisting that employees adapt to it is difficult.
- Managing employees' "work-life balance."
- Since the company is a service-based company at a global level, there is a constant change in their work setting. "Managing the change" is difficult.
- During performance appraisals, every employee expects a lot but the company is trying to do its best. "Satisfying" the employee needs.

As a Recruiter:

- When there is a vacancy and the management requires a quick hire, "speedy recruitment/hiring" becomes difficult.
- "Limited resources" to plan for recruitment (budget problems for advertising and other things).
- The constant task for any HR - the need to find the "right candidate for the right job."
- Also, searching for candidates who would fit the position and adapt quickly.

Thank you,

Sneha

Hello, Ms. Sneha. The challenges you listed are very typical of those that exist in the BPO sector. I work as an HR Executive in the industrial sector, and a few of the challenges I face are similar to yours, such as work-life balance and performance appraisal. Achieving employees' work-life balance was a huge task, as my company demanded extra working hours after the recent setback we had to face. The employees were oriented on the company's challenges, and the need for their contribution was reiterated. We paid them overtime, which was quite reinforcing for them. Though they were thrown off balance for a month, the working hours slowly reduced, and we managed to tackle the problem. This is just an example. Every problem has a solution, and all it requires is a bit of strategy and time. My best wishes.

Hello Sneha,

When I was working as an HR executive, I dealt with the same challenges. These challenges are stepping stones to learn more. Managing people and work ethics was one big challenge for me. Satisfying employees depends on the way they are treated at the office. The technique I used was to just recognize each employee for their work and know their needs. So these are things they'll learn out of experience. Don't see it as a challenge.

Regards,
Sathya

Hi Sneha, This is a good topic to discuss, which has been ongoing for years. I have worked as an HR executive as well, but in a different sector. The challenges you have mentioned are almost the same as other HR executives would be facing. For instance, finding the right candidate for the right position was the biggest challenge for me. There was a time when my company had a layoff, but within a month, we had to recruit 80 new employees. That was, in fact, my first task when I joined my company.

My HR president constantly wanted us to be updated with technology as well. Technology was not my area of expertise, but I had to learn it.

My expertise is in recruitment, but one day, my HR supervisor asked me to conduct a soft skills training for the processor level. I couldn't deny the task she gave me, so I had to do it. I thought this was the time for me to be versatile, show my talent, and take this as a challenge in a positive way.

These are a few experiences I had. I hope that was of some help.

All the best.

Regards, Venket

There are a few articles I would like you to read:

Economic Times Article

This is an article published in the Economic Times related to your topic: Biggest challenges for HR in 2014: The way ahead - timesofindia-economictimes

CiteHR Discussion

This is a discussion that happened on CiteHR related to your topic. I hope it is of some help. https://www.citehr.com/10646-problem...21st-cent.html

All the best.