ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > June > 28 > Entry
Human Resources: friend or foe?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last year, HR folks were all abuzz about a Fast Company magazine cover story in entitled, “Why We Hate HR.”
The writer portrayed HR as behind the times, not linked into company goals and simply ineffective in its role.
Many people use the term “HR Police.” It feels to many like being called into the principal’s office when summoned to HR.
Despite its problems, I think that HR has come a long way in recent years.
Let’s face it. They have a lot on their plates.
The successful HR professionals we interviewed for our book Shaping Your Role: Succeeding in Today’s Organizations (Elsevier, 2005), cited many challenges they face including compliance issues (helping their companies to avoid litigation), hiring outstanding talent (a huge concern for companies now), balancing the needs or management and employees and overseeing outsourcing providers.
It takes a special person to succeed in this field; one who is motivated to help people, solve problems and be in a continual learning mode.
When its working, HR partners with you, coaches you through options and provides expertise.
HR professionals and and any of you out there considering the field have resources like The Society of Human Resource Management and SHRMAtlanta where you can find answers to questions and gain certifications and training.
New sites crop up daily. Two blogs that I like are www.hiring-revolution.com and www.employmentblawg.com.
Are you seeing the HR role at your company evolve? Do you hate or love HR?
What could they do to improve their performance?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Personnel Soecialist
June 29, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this
I am a human Resource Professional; remember you are not alone. The problems are top to bottom.
By Milo
June 29, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
The HR people where I work are in Management’s pocket. In most companies, HR used to be for the employee’s, Not any longer. It’s all about screw the employee and make the company rich. They dont care any more and they make the rules up as they go along so the company does not get into trouble with the law.
By Nsg hope
June 29, 2006 03:36 PM | Link to this
Our HR person is also a trainer. She goes above and beyond trying to help us learn, improve, understand benefits and even offers other choices outside in the community to access if we can not afford benefits. She is straight up honest and is definitely not in managements pocket. She works with management side by side to help us. One of the few places left where the employee is not forgotten.
By irriated administrative asst
July 3, 2006 02:22 PM | Link to this
My hr is a b***h she only helps you if she wants to half of the time her i don’t care attiude is quite evident. she is always looking down on people and making judgement. i think she isn’t a people person at all and that she needs to be relieved of her position.
By Gino
July 4, 2006 01:17 PM | Link to this
Let me tell you about HR. I worked for the only major newspaper in north Florida. A couple of summers ago I had a new supervisor put into place that like to beat on his chest in front of you and exclaim, things are going to be done my way. He like to yell at you every night, belittling you, even though you were doing things the company way and not stepping out of line. Even after complaining about this person several times, they kept him around saying he was green and would learn in time. One night this clown physically grabbed me and shoved me out of an office slamming the door in my face. Three months ago I was having an acute allergic reaction to something I had contacted at work the night before. When I asked not less than three supervisors, if I could go home, I was ignored. Before the night was over, I had a dizzy spell from the reaction which caused me to have an accident in a company truck. I was fired for a case of misconduct. Oh yea, about the guy that grabbed me and shoved me out of the office, with all his might, screaming at me all the while. HR said he used bad judgement. He was black. I am white. No attorneys want to touch this. Go figure! I never had even a scratch on a truck for seven years of service until I had the allergic reaction. I was charged with careless driving. The Judge through out the charge when I had shown him pictures of the symptoms on my body and presented him the Dr’s statement of my condition at the time of the accident. Go ole HR! You gotta love em.