| Topic Name: |
HR people suck |
| Message Name: |
HR & Gatekeepers & Suck |
| Date Posted: |
01/17/2000 |
| In Reply To: |
As a member of a HR team I hate to burst your bubble. I work for a company with 77,000 employees, 1500 at my site alone. I do the staffing, recruiting, hiring, and yes I do the firing. Most large companies do not allow or even empower shop floor or sales floor managers from making the final hiring and firing decision. Your experiences are not uncommon but maybe your bitterness in regards to HR people is without merit. Most managers know what kind of skills, experience and education they need but lack in the personality and behavioral category. People look great on paper but put them in from of an interview panel and they fail miserable. We are the gatekeepers in a sense; we want top quality, and diverse employees with the skills and experience to succeed. Doesn't everyone? HR does in most large companies have the final word in firing employees also. Unfortunately in this day lawsuits are ramped and sometimes without merit, although HR keeps the managers and companies out of court which in turns keep everyone else employed. I hate to sound like a preacher but there has to be someone looking out for the company and the employees. |
| Message: |
Econdude - let's not get down on these people. They are just doing their job which includes defending their bureaucratic positions. Having contributed to this message board recently I want to thank all you HR people that responded to my message about how you HR people are gatekeepers, and that one should try to go around you. What pleases me is that you were not hiding behind the usual superficial rhetoric that employees normally hear in the HR office.
The mere thought that someone attempts to tap into what has been talked about for decades - known as the 'HIDDEN JOB MARKET' - this is quite offensive to you HR people. And why? Let's be honest here friends; you guys don't make anything, you don't develop products, goods, or services. You don't market or sell your company's product, good, or services. You don't count it or even carry it. You guys deal with people so you resent anyone that tries to go around you, and WILL IGNORE THEM AS PUNISHMENT for having transgressed upon you by sneaking around your gate. Ignoring talent because they offend you is arrogant, mean-spirited, and contrary to the best interest of your company. Anyone that does that is unprofessional.
Veteran workers know that HR people are gatekeepers of a potential company and once we are on board we know that you are NOT employee advocates. Many authors & job experts have talked about the hidden job market and that frequently a manager has need for a new employee, is actively seeking approval for a new position, and HR does not even know about it. Now, all of you will vehemently deny this is true and state in front of the world that I am wrong and you are right. OK, go into your restroom, look yourself in the mirror, tell yourself that man is wrong, you are right, and then give yourself a nice warm & gooey hug. Feel better now? GOOD! But how do you deny what experts have lectured about for decades? That is, the hidden job market. It's out there and I have taken advantage of it in my career, and I'm not the only one.
I can understand why you HR people object to people who attempt to get in through the back door. As gatekeepers, if someone gets past you, you are embarrassed. And since you are bureaucrats you cannot justify your existence when people use tenacity & ingenuity to get around you.
I love the comment about being "backhanded and sneaky". Did everyone notice that she lacked the guts to use her name? The top executives are sneaky all the time. Or how about the comment "In my company, I have equal decision power on rejecting or accepting a candidate". Is this a gatekeeper or what? If this guy rejects you then the manager never knows about your talent. Call this guy MR. TORPEDO. This is precisely what I'm talking about.
Econdude talks about arrogance. Man, has he got that right!! It is truly arrogant when HR people, in essence, say "Play ball by my rules or you don't get on my ball field, much less to play". I love all these self-righteous comments from you guys.
Econdude - I wouldn't worry about arrogant, mean-spirited HR people that won't let you through the front door just because you entered through the back door. Any company that allows such a 'person' who conduct himself so arrogantly is not the type of company you or I want to work for. As was said here before - "MOVE ON". As for me, I don't have to care about HR people anymore. I'm a contractor. I've had enough of arrogant, mean-spirited HR people. Now I hear clients complain about them - and I just smile.
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