China's civil service adopts e‐HRM … up to a point

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how public‐sector organizations in the Chinese autonomous region of Guangxi Zhuang are applying e‐HRM practices.DesignConcentrates on the operation of e‐recruitment, e‐training, e‐compensation, e‐benefits and e‐appraisal.FindingsReports that blended conventional and electronic HRM practices exist and are likely to continue for a little while into the future.Practical implicationsReveals that, where e‐HRM is being used, its prime benefit is in reducing the amount of repetitive paperwork that HR specialists have to carry out.Social implicationsExplains that there is still a tendency for people to work too hard in the Chinese civil service, partly because it is seen as the decent thing to do and partly for employees to earn a lot of money. But there are signs, too, that increasing numbers of employees are seeking a decent work‐life balance.Originality/valueReveals how e‐HRM operates in the context of the Chinese public sector.