That HR are useless in whatever setting they’re in?

[MiffyMiffed]

Bear in mind, that people don’t usually have to deal with HR as a new starter all that often, unless they’re serial job jumpers.

I started a new job for NHS 4 years ago and it took HR 6 weeks to process my paperwork. I had to actually ring them up and tell them I was starting on so and so date so send the paperwork to my new manager ASAP. They managed to do it in 5 mins after the phone call. 🙄.

Now I’ve got a new job, different setting, in a university. Again, absolutely useless. I’ve been emailed forms to fill out and send back. I emailed on the first day to confirm whether they wanted them back by email. No reply. So filled out forms online and sent them back. 3 weeks later I’m being told to post them. Then I’m told to scan a picture and send it. Next day I’m told everything has to be by hand. Tomorrow I’ll be told something else.

I’M SO FRUSTRATED.

For my fellow HR people...

I don't like the new coffee in the kitchens. What are you going to do about it?

It's too hot / cold / dry / dark in here. What are you going to do about it?

My friend is working for a completely different company, in a completely different role and based in a different city 200 miles away, and she's paid £5k more than me. What are you going to do about it? I'll resign, you know!

And “I want the air con at 20 degrees but Brenda wants it at 18 I’m going to submit a grievance if you don’t sort it out “ 🙄

So now I want to update on the incompetence. I have signed my contract and emailed it back.
I start in a few days time and even after emailing and asking for my daily work hours, I’ve still not been told! I know it’s 37.5 hours but isn’t it standard to discuss work hours and lunch breaks before starting work? Or do they think I don’t have any other commitments in life so can happily walk into a job unknowing what time I will be leaving on the first day. I have also asked for a 15min later start to which I’ve received no reply.

I’ve stopped emailing them now. I’ll turn up at the time I’ve asked to start.

@trinitybleu

I'm no longer in HR but you post took me back

"I start in a few days time and even after emailing and asking for my daily work hours, I’ve still not been told! I know it’s 37.5 hours but isn’t it standard to discuss work hours and lunch breaks before starting work? Or do they think I don’t have any other commitments in life so can happily walk into a job unknowing what time I will be leaving on the first day. I have also asked for a 15min later start to which I’ve received no reply."

I assume it was your line manager you asked those things? Seeing as they are the one who will set and manage your daily working hours and will be able to decide whether or not you can do a later start?

Used to piss me off that every employee thinks HR is the magical cure for every issue they are having.

Half of my job was spent saying 'have you spoken to your line manager first?'
'No, you are HR you can fix it'

I haven’t been given my managers email, or contact details. Again, this is something I’ve asked for and my email has been ignored. Instead, my messages are being passed on when they feel like it. At least at the NHS, I was given my manager’s email add and we decided on work times together. This is just a whole new thing

Agree. Never experienced helpful HR in my workplaces.

@flowery I guess it depends where you work, I have had no communication whatsoever with my line manager in the role I'm supposed to go in, I don't even officially know who it is (though I can guess). All communication has been through HR, they were even the ones to contact to offer the job (which I have to say has been fine, they have been quick to respond and dealt with all queries I've had). I've not experienced this before though, usually it's the line manager I'd be conversing with.

@MoreSlidingDoors she hadn't

I haven’t been given my managers email, or contact details.

Did your manager not interview you?

I haven’t been given my managers email, or contact details.

Did your manager not interview you?

It's not that unusual surely to not be interviewed by the person who is actually going to be managing you? I've been interviewed by my manager a few times but equally in bigger organisations it has just been a panel made up of various people of the appropriate grade. I've never had direct contact with anyone except HR before starting any of my jobs.

I’ve never heard of an interview where the senior manager wasn’t part of the interview process. They shouldn’t be dumped on by any panel to which they have no input. You can always use a phone and ask for the department. Take some initiative maybe?

I think there are some very difficult people on this thread who seem to spout venom at others very quickly when expectations are not met.

Quite clearly HR has a myriad of functions and differ from company to company and sector to sector. I always found colleagues to be responsible and excellent in their advice. They do support the very senior management but of course can be ignored. They also support staff who have genuine issues which need to be resolved.

Many times it is managers who cause problems. They do not follow recruitment policies, they bully staff, they won’t agree to training and when they go they think it is a joke. They cause tribunal hearings and cannot follow basic policies such as staff appraisal. Most organisations need HR and staff to work together and everyone needs to work to the policies and staff handbook. If policies and legal requirements are followed there is little interaction with HR. However this doesn’t seem to happen and people argue and differ in their interpretation of any given situation.

“I want the air con at 20 degrees but Brenda wants it at 18 I’m going to submit a grievance if you don’t sort it out "

I am interested to know, (from the HR professionals) what they suggested solution to this problem actually would be.

”“I want the air con at 20 degrees but Brenda wants it at 18 I’m going to submit a grievance if you don’t sort it out”

I am interested to know, (from the HR professionals) what they suggested solution to this problem actually would be.”

1. Put it at 19.
2. Talk to your manager and agree a compromise.

I’d tell them to speak to facilities

Thanks, Trinity, did make me laugh.

I’m sure everyone else has so much more worthwhile careers than us HR people.

”“I want the air con at 20 degrees but Brenda wants it at 18 I’m going to submit a grievance if you don’t sort it out”

I am interested to know, (from the HR professionals) what they suggested solution to this problem actually would be.”

Speak to their manager, agree a compromise at 19 degrees or speak to Estates.

Speak to Facilities. But basically, set it at the same temp all through the building and bring a cardigan if you're cold. Or deploy a granny blanket. Wear layers you adjust as appropriate.

In the last 3 months my HR have:

• not paid me correctly twice
• refused to assist with shortlisting for recruitment
• screwed up an interview inviting two people at the same time.

Idiots.

@moreslidingdoors
You and I have very different ideas about staff wellbeing. You speak with pride, of sacking people once a fortnight mainly because of ill health. I love the NHS and am proud to have worked in it for over twenty years but the staff are treated appallingly. Increasingly so by managers who don’t know what they’re doing, supported by HR who (in my experience) act unethically, focussing on easy targets whilst the people who are causing real issues are protected.

Why on earth would you need help with shortlisting?

You speak with pride, of sacking people once a fortnight mainly because of ill health.

Only after EVERY possible alternative has been considered.

Jasging

1. Payroll, not HR.
2. Why wouldn't you want to shortlist yourself for the role you know intimately and will be managing??? Weird.
3. Not good, how big an organisation is this? How many interviews likely to be happening simultaneously?

"If policies and handbook are followed there is little interaction with HR"
So easy then. All HR need to do is write a manual and everything will be ok
Unbelievable that someone who works in "human" resources thinks that this is all that is needed for policies and processes to be successfully adopted.
More evidence of why HR are shit.

Only after EVERY possible alternative has been considered

Obviously I can’t comment on you and your trust but this hasn’t been the case in trusts that I’ve worked within. Vocational rehab is something done with patients (if you’re lucky) but not staff, reasonable adjustments, alternative roles etc aren’t always explored.

But regardless, to say that you sack someone once a fortnight usually because of ill health as if it’s an acheivement is sad and not reflective of someone who has staff wellbeing as a focus.