By Hope Yarbrough
Balance, people, and flexibility stand out as three of the clearest signs that HR is actually working—not just on paper, but in real life.
Balance
Buckingham and Coffman (2016) show that when employees have what they need—clear expectations, recognition, and support—they’re more engaged and less likely to burn out. That’s where balance really comes from. It’s not just about working fewer hours, it’s about work feeling manageable and meaningful. You can see this in practice at Zillow, where a strong focus on employee well-being and engagement has been tied to better satisfaction and performance (Zillow Group, 2022).
People
When it comes to people, the research is just as clear. Garvin (2013) explains how Google used Project Oxygen to prove that good managers—those who support, coach, and communicate well—make a huge difference in team success. That same idea shows up at Fannie Mae, which invests in leadership development and employee support to strengthen its workforce (Fannie Mae, 2021). Buckingham and Coffman (2016) back this up by showing that when people feel valued, they’re more motivated and productive.
Flexibility
Finally, flexibility is what helps everything hold together. Breitfelder and Dowling (2008) describe how modern HR has shifted into a more strategic, adaptable role. A good example is Progressive, where flexible work options and employee-focused policies help improve retention and engagement (Progressive Corporation, 2021).
Put together, balance, people, and flexibility aren’t separate ideas—they work as a system. When HR gets these right, employees do better, and so does the organization.
References
Breitfelder, M. D., & Dowling, D. W. (2008). Why did we ever go into HR? Harvard Business Review, 86(7/8), 39–43.
Buckingham, M., & Coffman, C. (2016). First, break all the rules: What the world’s greatest managers do differently (2016 ed.). Gallup Press.
Fannie Mae. (2021). Environmental, social, and governance report. https://www.fanniemae.com
Garvin, D. A. (2013). How Google sold its engineers on management. Harvard Business Review, 91(12), 74–82.
Progressive Corporation. (2021). Sustainability report. https://www.progressive.com
Zillow Group. (2022). Annual report. https://www.zillowgroup.com