Developing a mission statement is the first step for any new company or organization. Why? Because a mission statement is a plan for how an organization will meet its goals. The same idea can be adapted for human resources. Developing an HR mission statement can help focus and steer an HR department towards completing its goals, which many times are distinct but support the overall organizational goals.
What is an HR Mission Statement?
A general mission statement is a summary that explains an organization’s goals and what it does. For a company, a mission statement may include goals, values and ethics, as well as what it does for customers, employees and the community. An HR mission statement is built upon the same premise. An HR mission statement summarizes the goals of the department, how it will achieve those goals, and the value it brings to the company and culture. It is very much focused on the present, not the future. If your HR department’s goal is to consistently improve the quality of hires, that should be tied to your mission statement. If your goal is to develop a highly-trained staff, your HR mission statement should reflect that as well.
Why Write an HR Mission Statement?
The HR industry is constantly evolving, and a mission statement helps departments focus their decision-making. For example, if your department has a goal of providing the best candidate experience, investing in an ATS that utilizes AI is a sound decision. On the other hand, if maintaining your current workforce is a priority, then improving your learning management system might take precedent over hosting multiple job fairs.
An HR mission statement also sends a clear message to candidates about your recruiting methods and hiring practices. It helps you attract the candidates you want to hire because you can determine if they represent the goals stated in your HR mission statement.
How to Write an Inspiring Mission Statement
When considering how to write a mission statement, think about some of the processes used for crafting the company’s statement. According to The Balance Small Business, an organization’s mission statement typically includes what it does, how it does it, and the values it deems most important. For an HR mission statement, the content is similar. You want to include the purpose of your department and your core values but also how those values connect to your company’s mission.
- Describe what your department does. Simply state the goals of your department. Recruiting candidates, retaining and developing employees, and increasing engagement all are examples of HR goals.
- State how your department achieves its goals. This is also a simplified statement, so you don’t have to go into paragraph after paragraph of descriptions. For example, this step could simply state goals are achieved through teamwork, organization and professionalism. Or, it could state your HR department meets its engagement goals through employee recognition and providing a safe workplace.
- List your values. Your department’s values can be a simple list—integrity, professionalism, diversity, compliance and communication.
- Align your mission with your company. Your HR department should describe the value it provides to the company. If your company’s mission statement includes providing a quality product, your HR department’s mission to train employees directly relates to improving productivity and quality. Or, if your company has a diversity plan in place, HR is the ideal department to help achieve this goal through its recruiting methods.
SHRM provides samples of HR mission statements that organizations can adapt. Samples range from more detailed HR mission statements to ones that comprise a sentence or two. For example, a brief mission statement might simply be:
“We are strategic partners in building [Company Name]’s business by maximizing the value of human capital and aligning it with company initiatives, values, strategies and the needs of all stakeholders.”
Human Resource Mission Statement Examples
Here are some examples of HR mission statements.
A better business, a better world, and a better you. That is what we thrive on, and the innovative and people-centric approach of our HR teams make this happen by attracting, developing and retaining the best talent; as well as partnering with professionals working in the open talent economy. The HR team is key to enable everyone at Unilever to bring their purpose to life through the work that they do.
We are committed to providing our employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Above all, employees will be provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer.
The City of Kyle Human Resources department is a business partner, working with and for the departments within the City. We are committed to recognizing that our employees are our most valuable asset. We are focused on delivering quality customer service in all personnel operations with integrity, responsiveness and sensitivity to all employees and citizens. We seek to provide support and guidance to all employees in employee relations, benefits and compensation programs, recruitment, training, development and safety. We embrace change and the opportunity it brings.
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Human Resources will support the UMMS mission by:
- Providing a nimble, service-oriented HR infrastructure aligned with the UMMS strategic plan and with the HR strategic objectives. HR is committed to maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction and to supporting organizational and fiscal growth;
- Fostering a positive culture and an inclusive, diverse work environment that values the institution’s greatest asset, its people, and encourages the empowerment of staff;
- Promoting a rewarding work experience that supports the recruitment, hiring, engagement and retention of top-tier talent needed to ensure that UMMS remains one of the premier academic medical centers in the world;
- Recruiting, hiring and investing in superior talent and promoting a learning environment that includes professional and career development programs that enable people to realize their full potential at UMMS; and,
- Ensuring our compensation/total rewards and talent management programs are designed and executed to maximize performance and are aligned with UMMS’ goals.
Don’t Forget a Vision Statement
As your HR mission statement focuses on the present, including an HR vision statement addresses the future. Vision statements are more of a “why” your department does what it does. A vision statement should align with your company’s strategy and how your department fits into the big picture. For instance, the example of the City of Kyle’s mission statement also includes a vision statement:
“We are committed to service, community, and innovation. We support the city and all departments in attracting, developing, and retaining a highly qualified and diverse workforce.”
Once your HR mission and vision statements are crafted, you need to take action. Measuring and adjusting your HR strategies routinely helps your department meet the goals set in your mission statement. If compliance is a goal outlined in your HR mission statement, make staying updated on rules and regulations a priority. A good Core HR system automatically updates any compliance changes.
Arcoro’s modular HR management solutions help companies hire, manage and grow their workforces. If your HR department’s mission is to improve recruiting, our ATS is the solution. Organizations looking to simplify their management processes rely on our Benefits, Payroll and Time and Attendance software. Performance and Learning Management along with Succession Planning work together to retain and engage current employees.
Not only does each solution work together but compliance is maintained throughout hiring and onboarding to post-hire.
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