HR pros are on training track

The Aditya Birla Group, for instance, has initiated a learning internship programme of 15 days for its HR professionals.

The HR group in the company is sent to an institution called 'Gyanodaya', where the professionals are taken through training modules in domain knowledge, latest trends of labour laws, building capability in the organisation et al.

The company conducts the training programme every 8-10 months. Says president HR, Aditya Birla Group, H R Shashikant, "Much more intensive and in depth effort has to be put in to train the HR professionals. The HR professionals need such training exercises more than anyone else in the organisation. And to keep them two step ahead of the learning curve of the organisation, such programmes are crucial."

At Patni Computer Systems, under its umbrella programme - Dealing with the Employees Aspirations, the department conducts a people management programme and individual development programme.

The organisation relies up on a study done by the Harvard Business School on 'Understanding the expectation of gen X and gen Y', as part of its HR training strategy to understand the aspirations of the gen X and gen Y and address to their needs.

A 12-week programme is designed to train the professionals in the organisations, including HR, where they undergo training in technical aspects too. On an average the company spends between 2-2.5 lakh on training the officials.

Says Milind Jadhav, Senior VP HR, "It is as important to train the HR employees as other employees in the organisation."

At Goodlass Nerolac Paints, HR professionals undergo a 12-15 day annual programme. Also they have come up with the concept of HR partner where the HR manager is attached to one business head to get a feel of business in the organisation.

Says Shrikant Dikhale VP HR, Goodlass Nerolac Paints, "HR is normally reluctant to be a part of any training programme. They find it difficult to leave their field of expertise and learn something new. But we know that such programmes will benefit them in the long run and they will perform well."

"The HR has come far beyond the hire and fire practice. You no longer need them only for recruitment. They should be versatile professionals. In fact, the CEO is looking seriously at HR paying a greater role in the organisation than its traditional function," says Dikhale.

While many organisations rely on an in-house training method, few call experts from abroad too.