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:

  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

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User Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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.)

  3. The Happy Employee

    Mar 18th, 2008

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

  4. Frank Roche

    Mar 18th, 2008

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

  5. ajit chouhan

    Mar 21st, 2008

    Even I feel no 10 should be No 1.

  6. laurie ruettimann

    Mar 21st, 2008

    These are awesome, Frank!

  7. 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.

  8. 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. ;-)

  9. Frank Roche

    Mar 23rd, 2008

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

  10. 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?

  11. 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.

  12. 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………….

  13. 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!

  14. 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.

  15. 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?!

  16. 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.

  17. Eva Proctor-Laguerre

    Jun 30th, 2008

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

  18. D Whitmore

    Aug 27th, 2008

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

  19. 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!

  20. 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!

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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

  24. Recess

    Nov 11th, 2008

    Wow. Reminds me of this article.

  25. Suzanne Enright

    Oct 29th, 2009

    Another great list! I agree with a lot of replies – number 10 is so important, also number 5. Sometimes it seems to me that in the journey to the table people are so focused on looking upward they forget what HR is about – the people they are responsible for taking care of.
    Suzanne

  26. Niroshan

    Dec 6th, 2009

    Greetings from Sri Lanka

    Fantastic set Frank. My addition – “when you know the accounting principles have changed and the balance sheet of the company shows HR as a liability – then its time to quit” !!

    cheers
    Niroshan Silva
    Past President HR association.

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