“I think HR is dead and hooray for that,” says Laurent Sylvestre, Beca's general manager. “HR is dead for something more people-centric.”
Sylvestre, who was named HR Generalist of the Year by the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, says the profession needs to evolve to stay relevant. “There is a need now to connect more with human beings rather than just employees,” Sylvestre says. “You need to connect with human beings if you want their attention and you want their time.”