Non-quiche for people working in HR, what do you all reckon?

[flowerybeanbag]

Anyone fancy bit of a whinge support group?

3 comp agreements in 4 jobs, Squiffy you troublemaker you!

Hello all I am back from a few days away, having to be very quick, might pop back later when DS is in bed and read everything properly but welcome to anyone new in the meantime.

How is everyone? Sounds as though someone's got itchy feet where you are llareggub, 2 years since a restructuring must mean you are all getting far too settled in your jobs and need shaking up again

Welcome kagey, dramaqueen and squiffy! Squiffy if you'd love to work in HR don't necessarily rule it out, with lots of relevant management experience plus decent study it might be easier than you think to 'slot in' at a senior level. Lots of HR Directors haven't actually climbed up the ranks from HR Assistant, but have moved across as you would be. Experience of being a 'normal person' in a business rather than just having worked in an HR capacity is really really useful, and is something lots of people can't offer.

ceebee sounds horrendous for your colleagues - is it a budget problem? Sounds as though it is, using mat leave as an opportunity to try and save money (thereby losing staff members to exhaustion and frustration and incurring recruitment costs instead...).

DH is stuck having the journey from hell back from a trip ooop north for work, so I am sat here MNing with the dog asleep on my feet preventing me from abandoning him

Hello, can I join in too please?

I am currently on my second mat leave.

Brief Summary:

Been in sales (early on) and then HR for 15+ years (now in late 30's). MCIPD. Worked for global FTSE 100 for most of career and in many businesses - manufacturing, commercial, corporate and two industries one fast and one slow.

Now HR Director with a declining number in my team, was 12+ and now 8. Also have relocations reporting to me.

Currently work with the CFO and his team, great job and great company - very lucky but not sure I will be going back full time. Think they may want me to do a bigger role

Hi Ruth! Welcome.

Sounds interesting about them wanting to do a bigger role - if that combines with a declining team is it because the HR function is reducing in terms of activity therefore they think you can take on more? On the other hand it might make a flexible working application easier possibly if they think you don't need f/t to do your current job?

And blimey you were posting this at 2.50am!

Hi there Flowery

So far HR function overall is not declining any more than the rest of the business in fact it has been less hit by economics.

I have been very good at negotiating extra resource paid for by the business. The loss of this accounts for most of decline and then I have shared resource (I suggested) with colleagues and one redundancy. Bigger role is in another business and will only happen if someone retires. It is in a business that has better HR:Client ratios so not necessesarily more work of lower level, just more work.

I think my boss would have a cardiac if I said I could do current role part time. In fact I may too.

Posting so early as was having one of those head whirring and whittering on times so I gave in and got up. Went to bed at 3am and then baby woke at 4am for a feed

I see. Well, in the interests of avoiding cardiacs all round, what do you reckon you'll do? I can see the need for head whirring at 3am!

Any chance of a bit of a rejig at the top end of HR - maybe get someone a wee bit more junior under you, and you do reduced hours doing the highest level strategy stuff and/or consultancy-type stuff? Is the bigger role in another business instead of or as well as? Could you maybe do just that and lose your current?

Tricky one isn't it? Particularly when you are working for a good company and like the people you work with.

How's everyone else? Any news anyone?

Room for 1 more?

Been retail HR manager for 7 years - can't believe how many of us there are on here

Flowery - great website btw

Welcome RuthT - the decisions you have to make when returning from mat leave are tough aren't they??

Flowery - yes, it is definitely a budget issue and they have obviously seen 2 pregnant women in the department as the perfect way to make the cost-savings they need to! It has actually got worse since I last posted as one of my colleagues (I have spoken to you about her before - not sure if you remember?) is now being taken down the formal capability route so unless she can get up to speed in the next 4 months which is extremely unlikely that will, in fact, just leave 1 fully-functioning employee to take on 3 people's work You are so right that they think it is cost-saving but in fact is probably anything but

Hi Detox - had a momentary panic then that I had posted my last message on the wrong thread and posted it on the Bonkers Anonymous thread by accident as I have just read your message on there

sorry ceebee74 At least you didn't post a tmi message from the Bonkers thread on this one!!

Detox - that is true, it could have been worse

Hello everyone. I work in HR I go back in September after a year off....I might need this group to cry on.

Welcome grouphug! We can certainly be shoulders to cry on if necessary Hopefully it won't be that bad! Are you going back part time?

Hi all, can I join the quiche? .

I have 14 years experience within HR in the public & private sectors, gave it all up 4 years ago when I had my son, I never really intended on taking such a long career break the time has just flown by! I am eventually looking to go freelance and I am planning to get some unpaid back to work experience once ds starts school next year.

A stumbling block for me is I never got around to finishing my CIPD and whilst it never held me back when I was working I think after having a career break it could prove to be an obstacle particularly if I want to go down the freelance route. I am thinking of doing the MA in Human Resource Management at the University of Hertfordshire which gives graduate membership of the CIPD. Has anyone heard if it is any good? Does anyone know how the funding works, can I pay off the fees after I have graduated? as I know I will not be able to afford to pay them up front! Is it worth doing an MA? the format looks pretty much the same as the CIPD but with a dissertation on top. If I am going to go for it I may as well go for the extra qualification I don't think it will be any harder as the CIPD is at masters level now anyway.

Welcome reethi!

AS far as your CIPD goes I would agree you need to get that under your belt. I am assuming you started it from what you've said so just the second bit to go perhaps?

Don't know about that particular course, it's been quite a while since I did mine, and I did it at Thames Valley University. Funding then for that course was up front in two chunks, I was fortunate enough to have sponsorship from the company I was working for at the time.

Not paying the fees until after you've graduated sounds a bit unusual, your best bet might be to get a career development loan from somewhere on that basis, rather than ask the university to wait for payment. I think there are some government schemes for that kind of thing but no idea whether you or this course would qualify for them. Bit hazy about it sorry!

Personally as an employer I'd be more interested in your experience than whether you've done an extra dissertation, so if it's easier/quicker/cheaper to do it without the MA bit consider that, unless you've got a fascinating interest in something particular and want to write a dissertation on it...

Particularly if you're going freelance, I reckon potential clients will just want to know you tick the box and are qualified, for reassurance, and an MA isn't going to make a heap of difference to them. Again, it's your experience and skills that are interesting.

That's my opinion anyway, fwiw, and I never did an MA either, hasn't held me back!

Thanks flowerybeanbag. I completed the first part of the CIPD at Thames Valley University too, I was there in 1993-1994. Unfortunately because it was more than 10 years ago I would have to do it again which is a bit of a bummer! I was going to complete my CIPD when I was on maternity leave but was dismayed when I discovered that it didn't count because it was more than 10 years ago it was only just over 10 years at that time as well!

I was thinking of doing the MA because it can be done full time and I think I would like to concentrate on it solely as I can remember the joy of trying to combine study and work, not something I want to repeat!

I love your website by the way. It must be a fantastic feeling to to set up on your own.

1993-4 blimey I was still at school!

Thanks for compliments on website, result of many late nights and much hair-pulling! It is lovely setting up on my own absolutely. I started the company years ago with my business partner, and I've done bits and pieces on the side of 'real' jobs on and off since then, plus some when I was at home pg with DS, but what with babies and maternity leaves it's only been recently we've both been in a position to really go for this as the main deal iyswim? Hence the need for a website, and I am very proud of it!

If you can study f/t and would be interested in doing the MA, go for it!

Hi, I have insomnia again so logged on for some company.

Agree with flowery on the CIPD thing. Would look for it on a cv but would be much more interested in capability and attitude. The MA wouldn't mean much to me unless the dissertation was of paricular note worthiness.

Flowery looked at website and it is a good concept. Notice you have opted against photos and wondered if that is just because you get referals rather than business from the web?

Not sure what I'll do as it all depends on what DH does. In an ideal world I'd do work at the same level but for 3 days equiv. This won't be doable in existing role or bigger ones. However, if I do have to go back for financial reasons then I will request a 9 day fortnight regardless of whether I go to new or existing role. Think they will find it v hard to say no to this.

Do also have an idea for a piece of research but don't ever get 5 mins to sit down and develop it at the moment.

Oh dear grouphug - know how you feel - what are you going to do about going back, are you going back full time?

Hello folks, just checking in. Hot on the trail of planned restructuring in my organisation, DH has come home clutching a letter announcing that 5 out of 14 people within his department will be redundant in 2 weeks time.

In shock a little bit, then spent an amusing half an hour pulling their letter and process apart. My expert opinion is that their process is pants. DH and I are both fairly confident that he'll be OK, but it is has reinforced the differences between the public and private sectors. I'm public, and a strike has been announced over the "paltry" 2.45% pay deal. There most definitely no payrises where DH works and 5 people going in 2 weeks.

Despite the redundancy announcement, DH has told me that one Director is working from home and the other has gone on a golfing trip. I am bemused, but more from an academic perspective.

The credit crunch is moving closer to home in the llareggub household.

Flowery, one thing regarding the website. Would it be worth you mentioning your geographical patch? I know this is the world wide web but I think clients would be interested to know where in the UK you are.

Morning all

Ruth I have avoided photos partly because that would involve getting some properly done of myself and my business partner and also partly as a deliberate decision because I think it's hard to have photos without it looking a bit naff. I don't know. Maybe I should think about that. I think I'm a bit shy of having my photo plastered all over the internet as well, daft I know.

llareggub re the location thing. I did think about that. Trouble is, depending on what work I would be doing for a company, the distance away I'd be prepared to travel would be different. I am used to travelling for work fair distances even for one meeting when I've had client groups as far as Scotland and Wales, so it would have to be quite a long way before I would say no, particularly if it's a piece of work where I don't anticipate actually going to the client that often. Something which was shorter term but involved being there a lot, I'd obviously restrict myself a bit more. So the answer is I didn't put it because I didn't want to restrict myself and didn't really know what to put. I think I need to mull on that a bit more.

Bad news about your DH's work - hope he'll be ok and that it won't mean much of an increase in workload for him once the (pants) process is completed.

I have news about DH's work as well. He is going in to resign today! He is a lawyer and has found a firm that will enable him to lead on the development of a particular area of work and give him a bit more independence. All very exciting - he's been where he is now since he left university so it's a big step.

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

Sounds like it is all systems go in the flowery household.

Flowery how easy/difficult was it to set up on your own? Did you do interim?

Fairly easyish for me really. We set the company up a few years ago. so that bit was all done, and did a few bits of work 'on the side' of normal f/t jobs, but that wasn't really sustainable. Neither of us were in a financial position at the time to take a leap from demanding f/t jobs, and then we had various personal disruptions which meant focussing on this wasn't really possible for a while.

Few more bits and pieces on the side. I then had to take some time off working for medical reasons and then got pg with DS. More bits of work during pregnancy, then stopped again when he arrived. Then starting in earnest again now things are settled down for both of us, hence website and what I suppose is a 'relaunch'.

I am in the very fortunate position that dropping my f/t salary wasn't a major issue - hence being able to take time off for my medical reasons and only do small bits of work here and there. Had I not been in that position, I think I would have gone down the interim route, yes, but as it happens I am able to take time building it up. Not too much time as nanny salary is plunging me into overdraft, but enough time to get going without needing a business loan or anything like that.

We are in an interesting situation now that DH is potentially facing redundancy . Like you, flowery, he has been doing bits on the side and has a couple of clients. The last week has brought difficult decisions to the fore but also the possibility of him concentrating on it full time. We'd be OK if he volunteered but the prospect is quite scary.

We've been working up a business plan to expand the potential market and client base and this is all new and interesting work for me. DH has a website which will go live shortly...regardless of the outcome at work.

Anyway, I'm also doing some exciting stuff at work so whilst the restructuring is chundering on at work, it is very much a minor niggle.

flowery, I do see what you mean about the location. Maybe you should state explicitly that you cover the UK? Just a thought.

Just checking in to keep up on the chat..

reethie I'm currently doing my CIPD via the distance learning route, and while it works for me for various reasons I agree it really is tough trying to study and work full time. I'm expecting first baby any day now, so I suspect it's going to get even more difficult to juggle! Does the university do the post-grad diploma full-time? It's a popular way for people here in Edinburgh to get the CIPD qualification and may be slightly cheaper/less work?