In a recent discussions with the students of a major B School, I had told them that the HR role has been hijacked by people who have done English literature!!! This is true because in almost all new generation companies we can see HR persons without any background in human resource management. They do not know what is IR and for them recruitment and motivational training are the core of HR. The experts also say that there is no scope for Personnel Management and Industrial Relations. But that is only good for presentations. Thinking that the Personnel Management is outdated and need not be taught in the B Schools is just like making mockery of the actual scenario. HR is the only functional area which cannot be practiced using your text books prescribed by the Universities.
There is nothing wrong in HR profession, but in my experience what I have learnt is that an HR person should know labour laws. You can hire a trainer to make the employees motivated. You yourself can be a motivator, or even when you speak for the people, they will automatically get motivated.... for the lower level employees, the benefits in the form of cash would motivate them and so on. But when coming to a situation wherein you have to take a decision in a leagl frame work, it is not easy to then go and refer bare Acts. Therefore, an HR person should be one who has command over labour laws. It is not necessary that you should be an LLb but there are courses in which you can study Labour law, Compensation management, Industrial Relations etc. Better chose a program on Personnel Management and Industrial Relations and then come to HR. While going through the content of the course it self you will make a decision, if this is your cup of coffee or not!