will technology eliminate the need for HR managers?

Answer 1

Great Q. It seems technology is processing humanity into levels of oblivion, and I'm sure coprorations might eventually NOT care about personalities, skills assessments on the job, after a hiring,,, Face to face getting to know who it is that chose to apply, why, and an Opinion of that person.

Certainly it might matter less in a field or job where little or no human interaction was the case.

It also might, on another level, make it easier for a prospective employee.... No more dress for success. No more angst over interviewing,,,Just straight facts. That also might eliminate those who apply, truly believing they have no chance of getting a particular job.

The HR person takes on more however, and I'm certain,,,again, that arbitration could be eliminated. Questioning someones desires to excell, and placing them properly, where they are best suited, or want to be,,,could be eliminated.

Do they serve a purpose? I think so, though it may be that the position is becoming outmoded.

Rev. Steven

Answer 2

Actually, you've asked a really good question. Here's what I think (based on a lot of experience running HR groups in companies and being a member of SR HR teams in a few veery large companies): The part of HR that processes things---benefits, payroll, database changes, etc. will probably end up either being almost totally automated or outsourced. That reality is not too far away.

The part of HR that advises management (typicalled called generalists, or business partners) will not be automated because most of it cannot be. To do that latter job, a person has to know the business of the group their supporting and based on that knowledge, provides complex advice on how to solve their people problems. Some day computers may be able to handle that complex thinking, but that will be about the time we have full-functioning robots capable of all human tasks... That point is probably not in either your or my lifetime...

Hope this helps you think through whatever it is that caused you to ask this question!

Answer 3

I don't think so... there will always be a need for a mediator in employee relations and a person to deal with "benefit issues."