Skip to main content
Contact Sales Support Login Help Careers
United States (English)
Americas
  • United States (English)
  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • Mexico (Español)
  • Brasil (Português)
Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • United Kingdom (English)
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland (Deutsch)
  • Nederland (Nederlands)
  • Other EMEA Locations
Asia/Pacific
  • India (English)
  • Australia (English)
  • Other ASEAN Locations
UKG logo UKG logo
Search Get started
Search
Get started
    • Solutions
      UKG Solutions
      Human Capital Management
      Workforce Management
      Global Payroll
      Workforce Management and Payroll
      See all
      Solutions by size
      Small Business
      Midsize Business
      Enterprise
      Industry Solutions
      Retail
      Hospitality and Food Service
      Manufacturing
      Healthcare
      Public Sector
      Logistics and Distribution
      Financial Services
      Field and Contract Services
      See all
      A brighter workplace is yours to create
      Experience UKG Bryte AI
      Reference Image
      Woman sitting at desk in front of a laptop smiling

      Discover AI powered by decades of people, work, and workplace culture data that’s designed to help every organization become a great place to work.

    • Customers
      Our Customers

      More than 80,000 organizations across all sizes, industries, and geographies trust UKG HR, payroll, and workforce management, and culture cloud solutions to drive great workplace experiences.

      UKG customer logos
      Customer Stories
      Belle Tire

      UKG Pro streamlines and automates administrative and HR tasks, so that field teams and managers can spend more time with customers, and coach, train, and listen to their people.

      Eventide Senior Living Communities

      Eventide Senior Living Communities uses UKG to drive employee engagement and streamline workforce management and HCM, including cutting PBJ reporting time by 99%.

      Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants

      Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, a nationally recognized restaurant group, is building a culture of belonging and engagement for its frontline workforce with the AI-powered UKG Pro suite.

      See all customer stories
      Customer Experience

      We think you’re pretty special when you’re a UKG Customer. That’s why we build products designed to inspire your people — and your organization — to grow and thrive.

      Partner for Life
      Implementation
      Support Experience
      Community and Collaboration
      Working Smarter Café
      Get support, collaborate, and learn more about your UKG solution!
      Visit UKG Community
    • Resources
      Research & Insights
      • By Business Need
        • Payroll
        • Human Resources
        • Time & Attendance
        • Workforce Management
      • By Type
        • Analyst Report
        • Webinar Replay
        • Product Info
      See all research & insights
      Events
      Tradeshows
      Conferences
      Webinars
      See all events
      Blog
      The People Purpose Blog

      Your source for the latest workplace trends and ideas from UKG experts and leaders. Stay informed and put people first in all you do.

      Labor Market Insights
      Workforce Activity Report

      Labor market insights and trends to help executive leaders understand the rapidly changing economy.

      Workplace Resources
      Great Place To Work
      Small Business Resource Center
      UKG Developer Hub
      UKG Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Cloud HCM Suites for 1,000+ Employee Enterprises
      Download now
      Reference Image
      An excited woman wearing a white blazer points upwards with both hands.

      Gain in-depth insights into the human capital management (HCM) market to help identify the solution that aligns perfectly with your organization’s needs.

    • About Us
      About UKG

      Learn more about UKG and how our HR solutions inspire workforces and businesses around the world to drive people-focused results.

      About Us
      Why Choose UKG
      UKG Leadership
      Newsroom
      Awards & Recognition
      UKG Ambassadors
      Culture
      Belonging, Equity, and Impact
      Our ESG Program
      Partners
      UKG Marketplace
      Analyst Reports
      Careers

      Look to your future. If you're interested in working for a company that truly invests in their people to create a culture of belonging and innovation, we want you on our team.

      Careers at UKG
      Early Career & Internships
      Benefits
      Life at UKG
      Featured Locations
      Hiring FAQs
      Experience awesome at work.
      Search jobs at UKG
    Contact Sales Support Login Help Careers
    United States (English)
    Americas
    • United States (English)
    • Canada (English)
    • Canada (Français)
    • Mexico (Español)
    • Brasil (Português)
    Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • United Kingdom (English)
    • France (Français)
    • Deutschland (Deutsch)
    • Nederland (Nederlands)
    • Other EMEA Locations
    Asia/Pacific
    • India (English)
    • Australia (English)
    • Other ASEAN Locations
    People icon
    HR

    The Rebirth of HR: HR Will Begin Reinventing Itself to Lead These Efforts

    The Rebirth of HR: HR Will Begin Reinventing Itself to Lead These Efforts
    • Share
    December 10, 2020

    Topics

    Best Practices Communication
    Subscribe via RSS

    For several decades, HR has been fighting the stereotype of technically incompetent, soft-spoken corporate enforcers (aka: Toby, from The Office). Despite the proliferation of savvy, effective, data-driven HR teams actively reimagining everything from performance management to corporate culture, a 2019 KPMG study found that three in five HR executives believed that the HR function was rapidly becoming irrelevant, and that HR desperately needed to modernize its approach to avoid becoming automated. 

    In 2020, COVID-19 and societal unrest elevated the HR function to mission-critical and underscored the importance of human intellect in people management. Companies are leaning on CHROs and CPOs to lead the pandemic response and shape growth strategy while keeping employees engaged, reconfiguring workflows, redeploying talent, and upskilling staff. 

    Indeed, well-resourced HR teams that successfully managed the transition to a hybrid workplace are now a top competitive advantage for companies in every sector. Just as CFOs’ roles were elevated following the 2008 financial crisis, 2020 will go down in history as the year HR’s impact and innovative potential was fully realized: Strategic, tactical people advocates driving tangible business results. 

    Embracing the Shifting Nature and Language of HR 

    No other field combines the powerful skills of process champions (workforce continuity, automating processes, compliance) and people scientists (understanding, predicting, and responding to and/or changing human behavior). Yet, to fully realize its potential, HR must change its nature and language. Rather than treating people like “human capital” and “measuring performance”, leaders must treat people as people and support their overall passions, contributions, and potential. We must rethink what it means to be “qualified”, challenge the status quo, and find ways to be fair and equitable in a world where there is no equal footing nor one-size-fits-all handbook. 

    People as Primary Stakeholders 

    As organizations adapt to putting people before profits, it should be overwhelmingly clear that the most important stakeholders in any organization are its people. In fact, in October 2019, a panel of 600 senior executives estimated that 72% of their company’s value was directly attributed to their employees. Rather than treating people as a resource — something to be managed, to extract value from, a commodity — today’s organizations and HR leaders must put their people at the center of their purpose. Employees have the single greatest impact on the organization at any given time, and they should be respected and treated as such. 

    For all intents and purposes, HR should be leading these efforts. As technology continues to automate manual processes, HR has the opportunity — rather, the obligation — to focus primarily on serving and enabling their people through meaningful strategic initiatives like well-being and long-term growth and development. It’s time to think differently about people, about their relationships and their impact on organizations, and ensure we’re creating the right conditions that allow our people to thrive. 

    Consider, for example, a 2020 McKinsey & Company study designed to evaluate employee well-being and work effectiveness during COVID-19. Ten employee experience elements accounted for approximately 60% of the differences in outcomes. In addition to basic human needs, such as safety and security, the key drivers observed were trusting relationships, social cohesion, and individual purpose. If HR doesn’t prioritize enabling these drivers across every level of the organization, who will? And who really stands to lose the most if they don’t? 

    The Evolving Role of Technology 

    Thoughtfully-applied technology will continue to play an important role as HR functions begin to shift their focus back to their people. The foundational levels of safety and security are still important, and employees and leaders alike will continue to expect convenience, speed, and accuracy from HR processes. Many emerging technologies are capitalizing on these changes by offering scalable solutions designed to truly serve employees, such as easing financial strain, improving mental health through charitable giving, or keeping a pulse on employee sentiment so leaders can act on the topics that matter most to their people. 

    Today’s employees desire — and deserve — much more out of work than a paycheck. HR departments, armed with innovative workplace technologies and a renewed focus on supporting people, have never been more empowered to shift from a transactional to a transformational employer-employee relationship. 

    The result? A diverse, engaged, and empowered workforce that’s agile, flexible, and responsive to changing business demands. 

    If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we need more of that. 

    • The People Purpose Blog
    • The Rebirth of HR: HR Will Begin Reinventing Itself to Lead These Efforts

    Related Stories

    three colleagues working at a laptop
    The People Purpose Blog
    The Value of a Mid-Year Check-In for Managing Your Annual Business Goals

    Mid-year check-ins are essential for evaluating goal progress, making any necessary adjustments, and ensuring alignment with the company’s overall objectives

    woman sitting next to man in conference room with a phone
    The People Purpose Blog
    Balancing Innovation and Ethics: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in HR

    Discover how AI is transforming the HR landscape and what it means for balancing innovation with ethical responsibility. Learn key strategies for artificial intelligence in HR that leaders can use to drive efficiency, improve decision-making, and enhance employee experiences.

    Two coworkers looking at a laptop together
    The People Purpose Blog
    How AI in the Workplace Supports Data-Driven Decisions for Great Work Culture

    Discover how AI in the workplace empowers small and mid-sized businesses to make data-driven decisions that improve employee experience, reduce turnover, and ensure compliance.

    UKG logo

    Footer menu

    • Suites
      • HCM Software for Enterprises
      • HCM Software for Midsize and Small Businesses
      • Workforce Management Software
    • Solutions by need
      • Time & Attendance
      • Human Resources
      • Payroll
      • AI in the Workplace
      • Scheduling
      • Talent Management
      • Employee Experience
      • Multi-Country Payroll
    • Customers
      • Implementation
      • Support Experience
      • UKG Community
      • Customer Experience
    • About Us
      • Why UKG
      • Culture
      • Our ESG Program
      • Leadership
      • Newsroom
      • Careers
      • Privacy and Security
      • Legal
      • Sitemap
    • Resources
      • Events
      • Analyst Reports
      • Workforce Activity Report
      • HCM and AI
      • The People Purpose Blog
      • Small Business Center
      • Enterprise HCM Demo Center
      • HR Software Demo Center

    Sub Footer

    • Accessibility
    • Cookie Choices
    • Cookie Notice
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Notice
    • Mobile Terms
    © 2025 UKG Inc. All rights reserved.

    Kronos SaaShr, Inc., a UKG Company (NMLS ID#1698726) provides money transmission services on behalf of UKG Inc. customers and in connection with certain UKG products. For more information, visit Compliance & Licenses.