HR (Human Resources) Departments- Good or Bad?
Question:
I am a HR manager, and I have always had the feeling that I help people. It is disheartening to think that someone would be afraid to go to me with a problem. I feel that I have a good relationship with the staff and hope that they can trust me.
That being said, not every employee that comes to me gets to have their way(including managers). I also know that I will sometimes make people unhappy with some of my decisions, and I am ok with that. I do try to be fair.
Unions play a part in the “hate your HR department” campaign, but they are just manipulating the employees for their own benefit.
My question is two fold:
1. Do most people really don’t trust their HR departments?
2. What are you expecting from your HR departments that they are not doing?
Answer:
I don't trust my HR... In most employment situations, my HR manager has been very "chummy" with management.
What am I supposed to think when they sit around and giggle and gossip with one another. I think professionalism at jobs are at a decline.
As for myself, I try to always uphold a professional manner and listen to every situation. I try to find both sides of the story.
In my opinion, you sound like an upstanding person who tries his best to do the right thing!
Bravo!
I like the people in my HR department, but I don't trust them. I think in the end their job is to protect the company, not the individual workers. It doesn't matter how legitimate a worker's complaint or situation, if it rocks the boat too much, that person will be shown the door in one way or the other.
I am also an HR manager. In my experiance so many different things play a role in the way employees feel about their HR department. Luckily I don't have to deal with unions, but I do have department Supervisors and Managers come to me about problems they are having with employees, I remind them of policies and procedures pertaing to employees, I remind them as Supervisors/Managers what they can and can not do. I don't tell them what to do and I don't decide what happens, I inform and advise, (no different than what I would have told an employee if they had come in with problems or concerns). Quit often that dislike/distrust feeling employees have for HR starts when those same Supervisors/Managers go back to those employees with that upseting answer or decision they've decided on, and promptly informing them that the decision was made by HR.
It is much easier to toss the HR department out their as the bad guy rather than admit being the true responsabile party when employees are unhappy about decisions made, repremands, terminations, etc.
In response to your questions, because you work in HR, I feel your questions are unfair and some what accusing... You have first hand knowledge of both sides. Like when that employee is fine untill something doesn't go their way or they did something they shouldn't have causing unpleasent concequences, for simply doing your job you become their worst enemy. As for what employees are expecting from their HR department that they are not receiving or feel the department is not doing, it's giving them their way. I have proven several times since being in HR how thankless this job can be when dealing with never ending interuptions and request, and how rude, selfish, and demanding employees can be when unable to assist with request when demanded. I feel in the work place it's become easier and of course much more entertaining to assume, blame, and/or accuse rather than understand why things are the way they are and see the logic and reason behind those ways.
Didn't mean to rant like that, but after reading just the first 2 responses I couldn't stop myself.
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