Reality of HR

It was my first company and I was in the induction program. During the induction we were informed about the various functions that operate within the company. When it was the time for human resources group the presentation earned the praise. The representative painted a picture of HR that appeared believable at the same time trustworthy. However as we started working we understood the reality.

We were told that the main responsibility of human resources is that each and every employee feels valued, motivated, and protected. However in my entire career I did not experience that. I always observed that the human resources representatives are not working independently but they work in close collaboration with the management.

Let me begin with an experience from skip level meeting. This meeting was supposed to be with the HR representative and the employee. I had my skip level meeting with our HR representative. It was a 1 to 1 meeting where the attendees were only myself and the HR representative. I had expressed my concerns towards the management without bad mouthing. I was promised that our discussion would remain confidential. Yet the next day when I met my manager I realised that the discussion was not kept confidential. The manager was speaking and using the same verbatim that I had used during the skip level meeting. This made me realised that the information that I had provided to the HR representative had gone to my manager word to word. That was the first instance when I lost my faith in the HR.

Next there was another instance where I required guidance towards one of the HR policies. I approached our HR representative and requested further guidance on the policies. The HR representative dismissed my request and said that the policies are not followed in the organisation. I was shocked to hear that. I wish I could have recorded that conversation and released to media.

There was another instance where I had queries towards the payout and appraisals. Questions related to these manners are always dodged by the HR. Their constant answer was that this was the best that could have been provided by the organisation. I should be thankful to what I have received. I should be thankful to have a job while the world is drowning in the recession. I asked one question to the HR representative that made them angry, "I am asking towards what I have already accomplished and not for what needs to be done for the world. What I am asking is my right and I am not asking for donation". Needless to say that HR did not like my response.

What I had seen from my corporate experience is that human resource function could have been the function that would play the key role in ensuring that the employees are treated fairly. However they take the safer route and they decide to side with the management to save themselves from any trouble. Most of the times human resources team do not even have the idea of what they are supposed to do and what they are supposed to speak. With my experience from four companies all I could say is that do not think that HR is your friend.