10 Ways to Know When It’s Time to Get Out of HR

Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 by Frank Roche

Here are 10 ways for you to know when it’s time to snatch the pebble from my hand, Grasshoper, and get out of HR:

You refer to the head of HR as Catbert, and there’s no hint of irony left
You actually look forward to firing someone
Whenever anyone calls out, you think they’re taking a “psychological sick day”
You have a 20-year collection of SHRM tsotschkes displayed in your office
You say, “This would be a great job if it weren’t for the people” and mean it
You don’t think that anyone can get a 5 in a 5-point rating scale
You’ve never even seen the table, let alone have a chance of sitting at it
You think that it’s just a matter of the right forms, no exceptions
You can no longer say no to management, even when it’s the right thing to do
You spend more time talking about employee engagement than talking to employees

User Comments

Dr. Smoot

Mar 18th, 2008

Great list. If they were in ranked position, #10 would be my #1 choice. My experience is that it’s the least obvious to HR folks.
Frank Roche

Mar 18th, 2008

Dr. Smoot…I agree with you completely. This is the order they fell out of my head…but I liked #10 best as well. (And welcome to the world of HR blogging. Cool beans.)
The Happy Employee

Mar 18th, 2008

The one about the table is my favorite. Very subtle…
Frank Roche

Mar 18th, 2008

The Happy Employee. Tee-hee. I liked it too. Buried it in there, but that’s a big item.
ajit chouhan

Mar 21st, 2008

Even I feel no 10 should be No 1.
laurie ruettimann

Mar 21st, 2008

These are awesome, Frank!
Frank Roche

Mar 21st, 2008

Thanks, Laurie, that means a lot coming from you and your ability to turn a phrase.

Ajit, I think that seems to be the consensus. Just a random order as they are.
Robyn

Mar 22nd, 2008

Hi Frank, “methinks” you truly celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and this wonderfully rolicking post spun from the Leprechans around you.
Frank Roche

Mar 23rd, 2008

Hi Robyn. [chuckles] That was some fun. LOL.
Cyndi

Mar 25th, 2008

I’m waiting for the next list….10 jobs you can do after you get out of HR! Wait, wouldn’t HR speak be “transition out” of HR?
Frank Roche

Mar 25th, 2008

LOL, Cyndi. Yep, that’s a good idea. And “transition” is the magic word. That, and “pursuing other opportunities.” Very very good suggestion.
doris John

Mar 25th, 2008

Excellent List! Does HR ever exist? Point 5 seems the best. You are proberly in the wrong job is people is a pain. Hmmmmmmmmm………….
Jeff

Apr 1st, 2008

The real version of #5 is “This wouldn’t be a job if it weren’t for the people” ! Great post!
Ray

Apr 8th, 2008

Just found this blog. Nice work and gave me a good laugh as I look for a new job to “transition” out of HR. I would ad its time to get out of HR when you put a full sized poster on your office door of the Grim Reaper during Halloween that says I am neither human nor a resource.
HR Lady

Apr 17th, 2008

How about HR’s hiring decision being vetoed by a senior manager’s “gut instinct” and he wasn’t even in the interview?!
Frank Roche

Apr 18th, 2008

HR Lady, I’d go with “ugh!” on that one. That senior manager must have gotten to that position by having ESP. It’s the only logical explanation.

Crazy that things like that happen. Sounds very fishy, I have to say.
Eva Proctor-Laguerre

Jun 30th, 2008

Frank, the list is great I have actually run into a few number 5’s.
D Whitmore

Aug 27th, 2008

Number 10 is the best, always talking _about_ employees – but never _to_ the employees!
Frank

Aug 27th, 2008

Thanks! It's funny, that's the one I come back to more often that any — get out there and talk to people!
Frank

Aug 27th, 2008

Thanks! It's funny, that's the one I come back to more often that any — get out there and talk to people!
MARY

Oct 7th, 2008

I AM SO DONE WITH MY HR CAREER…HOW'S THAT FOR BEST PRACTICE AND ENGAGEMENT? NO ONE REALLY RESPECTS THE POSITION ANYWAY.
Frank

Oct 7th, 2008

Sorry to hear that, Mary. I used to work with a leader who said, “The sky's the limit, but this may not be your sky.” It's always good to know when to move on. Sorry it's under trying circumstances.
kapeters02

Oct 23rd, 2008

Frank,

Thanks for the insight. Numbers 6 & 7 really hit the point for me. However, having the ability to sit at the table is difficult if your company does not support HR. Additionally, it is HR's responsibility to prove they deserve a seat at the table by functioning strategically on a daily basis. Evaluations that accurately measure the impact an intervention had on the bottom line may be one way to do this. by thinking strategically, and proving your departments success is a great way at getting a reserved seat at the table.

Bolinske Consulting & Recruiting
Recess

Nov 11th, 2008

Wow. Reminds me of this article.