Influencing Workplace Culture by Teaching HR Professionals How to Think Like a Sociologist

• In Event: From Data to Impact: Developing Research and Tools to Inform and Improve the Application of Sociological Methods

Abstract

C. Wright Mills’ Sociological Imagination is a powerful theory and tool for being able to see the world through an expansive lens by asking us to look at both the individual experience and the societal and systemic experiences that influence the individual. Sociologists are equipped to use this in their day-to-day work, however most individuals in the workforce are not familiar with the sociological imagination or understand the power of how they could use it to inform better practices within the workplace.

This presentation will explore how we could disrupt the status quo in the workplace by socializing these concepts through education, discussion, and challenging practices. Human Resources (HR) professionals have a great deal of influence over policies and practices that can deeply affect the lives of their employees. Structures like benefits, leave policies, promotional practices, etc., have a far-reaching impact not only on the life of the employee, but also on the lives of their family members. When HR professionals consider policies and practices through a sociological lens, they can increase awareness of how the systems they are creating in their workplaces could be positively or negatively impacting their employees.

We’ll learn about a two-part webinar done with an organization of talent development professionals in the central Ohio area on this very premise. The discussion created a better understanding of what sociology is and the entry-level concepts of the sociological imagination; and the activities created meaningful dialogue that challenged how we approach our work and what we could do differently in our organizations. The webinar creates a template of how this could be done in other settings to influence a sociologically-minded workforce.

Author

• Megan Hysell, Nationwide Children's Hospital