Human Resources

For this paper my Human Resource topic is Outsourcing. This is a subject that hits very close to home for me. The company that I work for is in the process of outsourcing most of its accounts payable transactional positions. I will be going there for a few months to train employees of the outsourcing company. I had a very hard time agreeing to do this at first. I mean really, why would I want to train people in a different country, people whom are going to take American jobs ?? Well, the jobs are going there whether or not I make the trip to India or someone else does. This is an opportunity of a lifetime (as far as my career is concerned.) I do feel honored that I was as to go and I am guaranteed a job when I return. In today’s economy, that is something to think about.

In this paper I am going to discuss the reason that the jobs are going to other countries and what our government can do to help control the trend. Or at least keep track of the trend.

Is there anything that can be done to slow the excessive pace of the outsourcing trend? Not entirely, but a more balanced and less destructive way to approach the issue is definitely needed. I think that we need initiatives that may slow the trend. Such initiatives could include the following:

A. Tax code modifications to create additional incentives for U.S. firms to retain domestic workers.

B. A national business accreditation process. Firms could obtain accreditation by meeting social responsibility criteria, including reasonable outsourcing policies. If consumers knew how to identify accredited firms, and companies themselves did business with other accredited firms, then there would be additional reasons to outsource in a more balanced way.

I am not sure that HR has very much control on whether or not positions are outsourced. What I feel HR can do is to be sensitive to the displaced employees. Demand that the employers give as much notice as possible to the displaced workers. Give them time to adjust and to find a new position, either inside or outside the company. Outsourcing could lead to communication problems with transferred employees. For example before transfer staff have access to broadcast company e mail informing them of new products, procedures etc. Once in the outsourcing organization the same access may not be available. Also to reduce costs, some outsource employees may not have access to e-mail, but any information which is new is delivered in team meetings

I personally feel that this trend will be continuous. What I mean is this; I feel that large companies will go through cycles; they will outsource small departments at first. They will pay close attention to cost, customer service level, accuracy and productivity. I think that if any one of these criteria falls below what the business considers unacceptable, they will pull that piece of the work back to the United States or back to their control.

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