I've seen dreadful corporate decisions and worker treatment, I've been subject to it, and so has my missus. We've both been well paid for such corporate stupidity, in one case my missus had to use the courts but so be it."
This is an excerpt from a real Facebook conversation I had last night with a man who's clearly either a) disenchanted with HR or b) hasn't got a grasp of what HR does. Let's put aside the fact that he and his wife have been well rewarded for breaches of their employment rights (his lack of ability to make the connection between the two is astounding whichever way you look at it) but his comments that HR is "twaddle" that means nothing to employees both irks and intrigues me.
I believe the deeper recesses of HR may be a mystery to many employees, but they are generally glad to know who to go to with issues or questions. As for 'twaddle'? I don't understand civil engineering, but I don't have to- there are plenty of great people out there building bridges and airports so clueless me doesn't have to. I don't dismiss what they do as 'twaddle' because it's not what makes my wheels squeal.
I think that's how most people see HR- it does what it does so they don't have to. Not understanding it doesn't make it pointless.
As for 'parasite'? My understanding is that successful parasites thrive because the host doesn't know they're there. HR makes its presence known, no bones about it. They also do well because they take without giving.
Looking at my workload right now, there's plenty of giving going on.
What are your thoughts?
Just found your blog Niki, so apologies for the late contribution!
ReplyDeleteI suspect this person's real concerns relate to the fact that HR is often seen as a mere pawn of management - there only to facilitate the employer's (sometimes unreasonable) requirements on the workforce, and not to support objectively employees within the company. Of course, this is not the case of all HR functions, but in my experience, there are plenty of senior managers who make HR feel that their sole purpose is to serve the employer (which is a major part of the role), but not to support staff.