HR Professionals and Managing Emotion in

the WorkplacePresentation by: Christina Farmer

CTAC

What do HR Professionals do?Tasks of HR representatives includes:• Provides counseling (managers, supervisors, employees, etc.)• Trains managers to discipline and coach employees• Informs employees of benefits • Recruits employees and conducts parts of their interview• Updates policies and guidelines so they are legal and up to date as well as

monitors compliance (Gorkin, M)• Monitors and appraises job results

What Questions do HR Professionals Ask to Improve the Organization?

(Ulrich, D)

Emotion is Part of Every Organization!• You can find emotion in any organization you work at. Maybe there is

a huge project coming up, maybe there is stress in workplace relationships, or maybe you just have a leading role and many people depend on you. • The key to productivity and staying sane is finding a way to cope with

workplace stress and negative emotions.

Stress, Burnout, and Emotional Support• A high amount of stress in the workplace causes burnout. Some

symptoms include emotional exhaustion, a highly decreased sense of accomplishment, and a loss of identity (Miller, 2015). • In order to solve this burnout, that can spread like the flu throughout

an organization, we must make the employee(s) feel like he/she is actively a part of decision making and provide emotional support.

How Emotion Plays a Role in Workplace Relationships

• In addition to burnout, we can also experience negative emotions whenever we work with someone we know we have had problems with before, or when workplace bullying occurs. We may also experience negative emotions when we think our job is on the line (downsizing rumors, bad performance reviews, etc.)• We also experience positive emotions such as compassion, positivity,

and pride that can make our jobs easier.

• The first step to managing emotions is to be aware of them. • The first step in managing relationships is social awareness (being

aware of what is socially acceptable and following the rules the organization sets).

The Key to Managing Emotions • Everyone in the workplace experiences positive and negative

emotions. Although it is harder said then done, the most important thing for us to do is to stop our negative emotions from interfering with our work. • Focus on the positive, and when you feel negative emotions, think of

the situation you are in and what is appropriate here and now. • Lets look at some rules for expressing emotions!

Emotional RulesThere is a series of rules most people agree are important for displaying emotions in the workplace. Some of these rules include:• Express emotions in a professional way- exhibit control and have

business etiquette. Don’t use emotional display to abuse others. • Express emotions to the right people- direct emotions to the

appropriate person and maintain confidentiality when appropriate (this is where an HR rep could come into play).

• Express emotions to help others- Others may feel the same way as you, express emotions because we can’t read minds.• DO NOT manage emotions for personal benefit or to throw someone

under the bus- Most likely if this is your style, you won’t have your job for long!• The expression of certain emotions is ALWAYS inappropriate- always

remember workplace policies when expressing your emotions.(Miller, 2015)

Emotional Intelligence• Some people are naturally better at expressing and managing

workplace emotions (Miller, 2015)• We are not born into being emotionally intelligent, It is a learned skill

we develop over time. • If you practice the emotional rules and manage emotions efficiently,

you can be a better communicator!

Why are HR Professionals Important?• They maintain the emotional side of an organization. As we have

learned in previous chapters that if we don’t have our inner self in check, we cannot provide quality customer service. • Expressing our emotions in the workplace can help us maintain a

businesslike atmosphere, improve our relationships, create a supportive workplace where anyone can seek help (bottom of pg. 202) (Miller, 2015)• HR representatives inspire employees to develop coping strategies,

and seek support from supervisors, other employees, and/or our department .

Why are we Important Cont.• The HR team overall boosts the productivity of the workplace by

providing a place of confidentiality where employees can be heard.• The HR department keeps employees safe by making sure everyone is

complying with rules.

Statistics• A 5% increase in employee retention can generate a 25% to 85%

increase in profitability (we can keep workers if we make sure they have proper training, great management, and an HR department)• 89% of employers assume that their employees leave for more money

elsewhere, but only 12% of employees actually earn more from their next company. Could culture be a factor? • Only 40% of employees are well informed of their company’s goals,

strategy, and tactics. With a great HR department, these numbers can change!

(Blackhawk Engagement, 2014)

Research IdeasIt would be interesting to look at statistics on exactly how much productivity is influenced by the HR department

Based on the statistic of employee retention increasing profitability, we could research what companies with a low turnover rate are doing and what resources their employees have.

References PageUlrich, D. A New Mandate for Human Resources. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/1998/01/a-new-mandate-for-human-resourcesGorkin, M. A Stress Survival Guide for HR Managers/Professionals. Retrieved from: http://www.businessknowhow.com/manage/hrsurv.htmMonster (2016). Human Resources Job Description Sample. Retrieved

from: http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/job-descriptions/human-resources-manager-job-

description-sample.aspx

Miller, K. (2015). Organizational communication: Approaches and processes (7th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Blackhawk Engagement (2014). 23 Employee Motivation Statistics to Silence Naysayers. Retrieved from: https://www.bhengagement.com/23-employee-motivation-statistics-to-silence-naysayers/