HR often provide tools which help line managers or the employer to “get the best out of people” or to minimise risk to the company/organisation

A new outfit called WiseUpAtWork ( at http://www.wiseupatwork.com ) actually suggests that focusing on the employee instead of the employer/line manager is good for business. If HR helps employees they in turn will help the employer ( by staying with them and contributing more.)

So who is HR’s customer? Who does the profession serve? In business terms the employer is HR’s client as they pay HR’s salary, but the consumer of HR services is the employee.

However, some employees see HR as their employee advocate and defender of their rights, while the employer may see HR as its last line of defence.

Can HR serve two masters who may have mutually exclusive demands? Wise Up At Work seem to think so.
Mike Healy