The Modern People Leader’s Post

HR Knows the Problems. Why Aren’t We Solving Them? Burnout in HR isn’t a mystery—it’s a crisis. Fourth-quarter medical leaves. Mass exits from the profession. An overwhelming sense of “we’re not okay.” Colin H. Mincy doesn’t mince words: “We know the problems. They are lingering, well-dialogued, clear problems. We’re just not dealing with them.” What’s Really Holding HR Back? • The Same Names, The Same Stories: Ask any cross-functional group: Who derails progress? Who creates toxic environments? You’ll hear the same names. • Clarity & Fairness Are Missing: Promotions depend on managers, not merit. Decision-making lacks transparency. These aren’t new issues—they’re just unresolved. • Harm vs. Healing: HR tries to heal organizations while leaders perpetuate harm. “We’re fixing one thing and waiting for the next shoe to drop.” What keeps Colin up at night isn’t identifying the problems—it’s the paralysis around fixing them. He calls out the all-or-nothing mindset: “If 90% of an idea works but 10% doesn’t feel right, nothing happens. We need to reject that. We can’t move forward when solutions are picked apart to the point of stagnation.” Colin’s challenge to the profession: • Hold people accountable—not just for microaggressions and DEI infractions, but for failing to contribute to solutions. • Stop navel-gazing and start naming the real issues, because only then can we claim the path forward. Link to the full episode in the comments.