Today is Human Resource Professional Day
Published:Sunday | October 7, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Today, October 8, is being celebrated as Human Resource Professional Day. The day was first referenced as HR Day by His Excellency Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on October 8, 2013, and on October 1, 2018, a proclamation from the Deputy Governor General, Hon Steadman Alvin Ridout Fuller, made it an annual celebration.
"Whereas we value human resources as our country's resource with the greatest potential ... I, Steadman Alvin Ridout Fuller, commander of the Order of Distinction, deputy governor-general of Jamaica, do hereby proclaim the eighth day of October annually as Human Resource Professional Day and the week within which the eighth day falls as Human Resource Management Week," stated the proclamation.
The week of activities, which is being hosted by the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ), kicked off its week of celebrations yesterday with a church service at the Webster Memorial United Church in St Andrew. According to President of HRMAJ Karl Williams, who is also senior vice-president of group human resources and corporate sales and services at Sagicor Group Jamaica, HR Professional Day and HR Week is to recognise and celebrate human resource professionals and practitioners who play an integral role in ensuring the success of organisations by nurturing and developing human capital.
DYNAMIC ROLE
"The HR role is a dynamic and challenging one, yet is rewarding, as it encompasses the management of the most valuable and valued asset in every organisation - its people," Williams added.
During the week of celebration, HRMAJ is especially encouraging employers to plan activities to treat and recognise their HR team members.
"At HRMAJ, our role during HR week is to bring the HR profession to the forefront of the minds of the Jamaican employers and to positively contribute to the image and continuous development of the occupation," Williams noted.
As part of the activities for the week, HRMAJ will also be hosting a public lecture at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites in New Kingston on Thursday, October 11, starting at 6 p.m., and a blood drive on Saturday, October 13, at the National Chest Hospital on Barbican Road, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.