HR certification highlighted as critical amid rapid workplace shifts
Singapore's employers are being urged to accelerate the professionalisation of their human resources (HR) teams through formal certification, as rapid technological change and demographic shifts put pressure on workplace practices.
Benjamin Boh, co‑chair of the Tripartite Workgroup on Human Capital Capability Development and a council member of the Singapore National Employers Federation, argued that wider uptake of HR certification is now critical to business resilience.
"Amid intensifying disruption and increasing need for businesses to transform, wider adoption of HR certification would strengthen the capabilities and standing of HR within organisations," Boh said in a commentary published on The Business Times.
The Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) offers certification for HR leaders. In Singapore, companies with more than 200 employees are urged to ensure that their HR teams hold IHRP or other internationally recognised HR certifications.
"The voluntary IHRP certification framework benchmarks HR professionals against a core set of competencies that enable them to create value and deliver positive impact to the business," Boh said.
"These competencies encompass knowledge in areas such as labour policies and legislation, technology and operational excellence, as well as the mindsets and behaviours for managing organisational change and shaping positive employee experience."
Benefits for employers, employees
Boh acknowledged that some sceptical employers may only see certification as an "unnecessary" paper chase for HR leaders, many of whom already have deep expertise and extensive experience in their roles.
"But when the role of HR is evolving so quickly, experience alone is insufficient," Boh said.
"Certification establishes a professional baseline that helps HR professionals to be recognised and effective in navigating the new world, particularly when their decisions affect careers and an organisation's long-term health."
He also added that certification has benefits for employers and employees alike.
"For employers, certification provides greater assurance that HR professionals have a solid foundation of knowledge, skills and judgement to develop and execute workforce strategies aligned with business objectives," he said.
"Similarly, employees may place more trust in certified HR professionals in upholding fair employment practices, supporting job redesign and facilitating their career development."
Not a silver bullet
But having HR certification is not the only solution to issues faced by workplaces today, according to the SNEF member.
"As a business leader, I have learnt that even the best HR strategy will fail if employers do not set the team up for success. C-suite leaders must give HR professionals the mandate and strong support to do their work well," Boh said.
This includes supporting HR professionals in their learning journey, involving HR in transformation planning, investing in tools and data that will enable sound decision-making, as well as adopting HR tech to ease the burden on these professionals.
"Singapore's next phase of growth will depend on how well employers navigate disruption, demographic shifts and intensifying global competition," he said.
"To succeed, businesses need to keep jobs meaningful, skills relevant, and workplaces fair and inclusive. HR sits at the centre of these shifts."
