I'm in HR, AMA

[Hollyhocksarenotmessy]

AMA in general - if you want advice on a personal employment issue please go to Work or Legal forums.

Snipers on the roof (regularly) and having to lock staff into the building for 2 days straight during riots.

Why is it now called HR - what was wrong with 'Personnel'?

'Personnel' (apparently) has very strong connotations around dealing with people administration and welfare only.

'Human Resources' is meant to be a more meaningful title.

TBH the profession struggles around it's title. I like 'Workforce'.

But I'll settle for 'Human Resources'. It's more important that as a profession we are very clear about our expertise and why it matters, than what we are called as such.

Oh gosh sorry @hollyhocks I really am hijacking! I'll stop now!

Oh a quick one on tricky situations...

A bomb scare and site evacuation
The whole workforce not being paid as planned the day before Christmas Eve
Various assaults between staff members and on patients / service users
Senior exits
Staff suicide on the premises
Staff stealing things from each other
Finding out an employee is an abuser of some sort
And most Secret Santas!

Tricky situations...hmmmm
Dress Down Days - don’t even get me started, lol,
When very senior management expect everyone to follow processes and policies except they themselves,
When employees are convicted of a serious crime, eg against children,
Team members having affairs and conducting ‘relations’ on the premises,
The aftermath of many Christmas parties..
And so many more, some trivial, some a lot less so.

@ConcernedAboutWarrington

'Personnel' (apparently) has very strong connotations around dealing with people administration and welfare only.

'Human Resources' is meant to be a more meaningful title.

TBH the profession struggles around it's title. I like 'Workforce'.

But I'll settle for 'Human Resources'. It's more important that as a profession we are very clear about our expertise and why it matters, than what we are called as such.

So what do you actually do then?

I absolutely detest “Workforce”

I prefer “People”

If you'd RTFT @BeaMends you would know.

@ConcernedAboutWarrington

If you'd RTFT *@BeaMends* you would know.

You need to brush up on your people skills.

Never liked the phrase Human Resources either - far prefer People...

@Hoppinggreen

A friend of mine is in HR and when he worked for a large retailer a man fell from a plane and landed in the car park as it came into land. He had to go to the branch to help liaise with the authorities and help the staff effected What’s the weirdest situation you have ever dealt with ?

Complaint from staff about people (god knows who) naked sunbathing on the flat roof of a building behind us.

@Hoppinggreen

A friend of mine is in HR and when he worked for a large retailer a man fell from a plane and landed in the car park as it came into land. He had to go to the branch to help liaise with the authorities and help the staff effected What’s the weirdest situation you have ever dealt with ?

That was the Homebase (or is it Sainsbury's?) near Richmond, right? It has happened there quite a few times

Complaint from staff about people (god knows who) naked sunbathing on the flat roof of a building behind us.

what did you say to them?!

As I'm not a generalist I don't have any crazy stories, tragically.

Hello. Do you have any advice for someone relatively new into HR and trying to find their feet? I have a HR degree and got a job as HR Admin. Have been in this role for 18 months and just completed CIPD qualification and have been promoted into an advisory role. How long did it take for you to feel comfortable in your role? I still feel like there’s so much to learn and I’m drowning a little bit!

Is it a sackable offence to send derogatory texts to other staff members about your bosses wife?

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

“ if you want someone to always agree with you, join a union”

I really take umbrage with this statement, I am a full time union official, and we are not there to defend the indefensible. I will not condone lying, I will not support someone cheating, and I certainly do not allow members to behave in anything other than a professional manner.

I will ensure that policies, processes and employment law is adhered to, but to infer that unions always agree with their members, and allow that, is completely disingenuous and not professional.

@BeaMends

Why is it now called HR - what was wrong with 'Personnel'?

Personnel was too tied in with admin and staff welfare, and we do a lot more than that now.

Another new term that pops up is Human Capital management. I understand the thought process behind it, but it makes me think of Soylent Green, so I really dislike it.

@Han789

Hello. Do you have any advice for someone relatively new into HR and trying to find their feet? I have a HR degree and got a job as HR Admin. Have been in this role for 18 months and just completed CIPD qualification and have been promoted into an advisory role. How long did it take for you to feel comfortable in your role? I still feel like there’s so much to learn and I’m drowning a little bit!

Know your limits and ask more senior people for advice when you need it. We never stop learning, we all bounce ideas around and double check things, so don't feel awkward about it. It's one of the reasons HR is interesting.

Keep up with your CPD and you'll be fine. Congratulations on the promotion.

@Hoppinggreen

Is it a sackable offence to send derogatory texts to other staff members about your bosses wife?

It's never wise to bully your boss.

Whether anything is a sackable offense depends on many factors including what actually happened, is it misconduct or gross misconduct, the effect on the victim, the policies of the employer, the culture in the organisation, the disciplinary record of the employee.

[quote HuckfromScandal]@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

“ if you want someone to always agree with you, join a union”

I really take umbrage with this statement, I am a full time union official, and we are not there to defend the indefensible. I will not condone lying, I will not support someone cheating, and I certainly do not allow members to behave in anything other than a professional manner.

I will ensure that policies, processes and employment law is adhered to, but to infer that unions always agree with their members, and allow that, is completely disingenuous and not professional.[/quote]
Yes, I apologise for that, it was a reaction to a wee flood of messages on theHR are evil because we work for the organisation.

I did also comment on my dealings with unions in a positive way. I do actually advise people to join unions in a genuine way, and I belong to a union myself.

Unions play an important role.

@Hoppinggreen

Is it a sackable offence to send derogatory texts to other staff members about your bosses wife?

Such as calling her Princess Nut Nut?

We can but hope.

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy do you not think Human Resources is at least as "Soylent Green"-y as Human Capital? I have always thought it's a horrible name for a business function! Who wants to be a human resource?

Thank you for the thread, though - very interesting.

Have namechanged for this as I feel a bit embarrassed I don't know.

I graduated last year with a degree in HR & Buisness Management, with CIPD level 5.

I've done basic admin roles but quit my job in January to spend some time at home with my 3rd child (have spent the last 4 years working full time and studying part time and to be honest I was just beyond exhausted, I have 3 children under 7).

I now need to rejoin the workforce. With experience in admin, and this degree, and then a year out, what can I apply for? At what stage do I go in?
It's essentially my first HR job I'm looking for, so does that mean I just go in at HR admin level or with my qualifications can I apply for a role the next step up? Would that be advisor? Am I not qualified enough for that?

I feel really silly applying like people will laugh at me for not knowing but obviously I want to have the best chance of finding work.