HR directors are struggling to achieve adequate standards of delivery in core HR functions.

The findings are the results of a survey conducted at the recent Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development annual conference. According to the researchers, hy-phen, a recruitment process outsourcing specialist, HR directors prefer to keep core processes in-house despite admitting to falling standards.

Only half felt they were achieving high standards in age, gender diversity and regulatory compliance. Yet a shocking 45 per cent felt they wouldn’t be able to provide accurate diversity figures if an audit were carried out with a week’s notice.

Poor knowledge on key statistics permeates all areas. Only in ‘staff turnover’ did more than 80 per cent of HR directors have immediate access to management statistics.

Finding the right staff is also proving to be problematic. Half of respondents say it takes more than three months to fill a management role, with nearly 10 per cent taking more than five months.

Far from being strategic, 18 per cent said they weren’t close enough to the organisation’s core business to help achieve its strategic goals.

Despite the disappointing results, many feel a third party doesn’t help. More than half said outsourcing HR functions increases organisational risk. Just 51 per cent believe it adds value, with the other half feeling it either erodes value or has absolutely no effect.

Payroll is the only function that is fully outsourced by 20 per cent of the sample group. The next highest fully outsourced process was strategic consultancy at a mere 8 per cent. With training, two in five HR directors felt external providers were either not important or had no view.

Neil Jones, managing director of hy-phen, said: “HR directors have to shoulder a huge amount of responsibility and must retain the highest possible standards, and outsourcing can help them do that, freeing up their time to focus on more effectively supporting the business.”