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

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:

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

Posted on March 18, 2008 by Frank Roche 
Filed Under KnowHR

Comments

17 Responses to “10 Ways to Know When It’s Time to Get Out of HR”

  1. Dr. Smoot on March 18th, 2008 8:59 am

    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.

  2. Frank Roche on March 18th, 2008 9:04 am

    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.)

  3. The Happy Employee on March 18th, 2008 4:15 pm

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

  4. Frank Roche on March 18th, 2008 4:26 pm

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

  5. ajit chouhan on March 21st, 2008 6:48 am

    Even I feel no 10 should be No 1.

  6. laurie ruettimann on March 21st, 2008 1:51 pm

    These are awesome, Frank!

  7. Frank Roche on March 21st, 2008 2:01 pm

    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.

  8. Robyn on March 22nd, 2008 7:12 pm

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

  9. Frank Roche on March 23rd, 2008 12:32 pm

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

  10. Cyndi on March 25th, 2008 10:36 am

    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?

  11. Frank Roche on March 25th, 2008 10:45 am

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

  12. doris John on March 25th, 2008 5:59 pm

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

  13. Jeff on April 1st, 2008 1:32 pm

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

  14. Ray on April 8th, 2008 5:05 am

    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.

  15. HR Lady on April 17th, 2008 11:00 pm

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

  16. Frank Roche on April 18th, 2008 5:29 am

    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.

  17. Eva Proctor-Laguerre on June 30th, 2008 3:00 pm

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

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