A member of APF’s Human Resources Development Department (HRD) team, for Palti, HRD is the heart and conscience of the company where HRD can be assertive and sometimes lenient at certain points in time. Palti believes that behind every HRD action lies the intent to impart knowledge and lessons.

He was first invited for an interview by APF due to his unique experience of successfully releasing 3,500 employees without any industrial disputes.  Palti remembers that the period of the 1998 Asian financial crisis was a golden learning period for him to understand that HRD’s function is to humanize the employee.

“At that time, I was faced with a situation where I had to support the continuation of the company’s operations, but on the other hand, I had to be an executioner for my own friends,” he said. Palti said that he accepted the task of leading steps to rationalize the number of employees with an underline note that whoever was affected had to get all their rights and be prepared to sustain their future. “We provided them with pension preparation training, we support them with a series of coaching clinics to start entrepreneurship, and Praise God, everything went smoothly even after that (termination), we became close friends,” he said. 

From his perspective, an HR personnel should not only “see people” but “see through the people”. An HR is not demanded to be able to solve all employee problems. According to him, 7 out of 10 employee complaints to HR are not originated from a desire to get a solution but rather the need to be heard. “We (HR) have to be friends for all. True friend. They are adults, encouraging, empowering, sharing perspectives and letting them decide. Once they are felt being listened to, they are already halfway to the solution.” For Palti, HR’s biggest challenge is keeping employees motivated to work, not just to maintain a routine. 

“It is true that APF is not perfect yet, but we should appreciate that now our people have been aware and putting HR as a priority for future development. That’s not something you may see everywhere”, he concluded.