Michael Wade of Execupundit has some questions for HR. Who has some answers for him? Here’s a toughie:
Why do so many Human Resources departments regard employees as adversaries or nuisances?
The other questions are much, much more difficult.
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mszypko
Jan 5th, 2009
Because they are?????
John Cerasani
Jan 6th, 2009
That is so funny! I don't think it starts off that way, but after HR communicates benefits and practices thoroughly at new hire orientations and explains things multiple times… Yet, gets called with questions that are in black and white inside packets that were handed out the previous day or in emails that were sent out 3 times… I believe, after a couple of years, an adversary relationship starts to develop! The best HR people I have worked with try their hardest to avoid this!
jgrenis
Jan 6th, 2009
I am fascinated that these questions didn't get a greater response and I'm not sure what that says about our HR community. HR allows itself to get put in no-win situations with regularity because we often seem to lack the wherewithal to push back on the “system” and do what's right for the organization. We fall back on the tried-and-true, the way it's always been done without considering the more global impact of what we do. The balancing side of this is that HR is constantly dictated to by the laws of the land, typically written by people who don't seem to have a clue about what their laws mean in the real world in a real company. HR is caught between a rock and a hard place, too much trivial compliance that takes away from our ability to make a difference and in some cases a lack of desire to do other than the trivial.
Frank
Jan 8th, 2009
I don't know why some posts get a lot of comment and others don't. I do think there are things to be discovered about people…and I particlarly agree with what you say about “too much trivial compliance…takes away from our ability to make a difference….” Nicely said.
Frank
Jan 8th, 2009
You're right…I often end up warning about the bad eggs…there are many, many good HR people out there. I need to cite more of that behavior.
Frank
Jan 8th, 2009
LOL…Cogito ergo HR.