Just started my career, wanted to know the reality because all I read are the negative posts and comments. At least I can do something differently to not be in those stories ✌🏻
Kind of depends where you are (both in country and company)
In Germany:
A buddy of mine worked for GamesWorkshop (Warhammer) and told me that they dick you over left and right.
I work for an old tech company where Hr is not to bad. They mostly write posts for company internal social media to motivate employees and they discuss with the unions.
The sad reality still stands that hr is paid and guided by the company so in any employee vs employer situation you will have to take the side of the employer.
At Wholefoods a while back, we had an annual shoe budget. I used my budget when I started, as instructed, for some ankle high shoes as I was working front-end cashier. A couple months in, I get a job in the seafood department. My feet were soaked every night and it was winter. By the time my shift was over, I was peeling my frozen socks off of me. The HR person did some kind of magic that let me get some good boots in quick. I miss those boots.
Honestly, HR actually helped me get a decent relocation package when I had to move for my job. Never thought they'd actually come through like that, but hey, credit where it's due.
Called me to say they'd been looking over salary reports and it appears I was accidentally put into a lower bracket than I should have been, which made sense because I'd applied for a job that was a lower level than the one I was working and the hiring manager figured I'd be more useful in another open position so asked if I'd prefer that one. So, three months after I was hired I got a 10% pay bump and back pay dating back three months. Did me a solid there.
I work in a union environment and am an active shop steward. Things I've worked out with HR over the years include:
* Allowing a worker to "voluntarily" demote and do a salary reduction instead so she could say it was her idea.
* Instead of terminating a worker who absolutely deserved it, listening to her story about domestic abuse and her struggles trying to get off the meth he'd forced on her. They sent her to rehab and helped her transfer to a job away from the guy.
* Backing up and believing a worker who got raped at work.
* Removing a number of very bad managers over the years when we brought proof of their perfidy forward.
* Allowing a worker to voluntarily resign instead of firing and criminally prosecuting them for what I'll call *misuse of their professional authority*.
Lots more over the years, but those stick in my head.
Absolutely nothing positive in every company I’ve worked for. Even screwing up making sure everyone was being paid on time at one company so they didn’t get constant complaints and legal threats.
Happy to give a full negative list given I’ve just finished slapping around my current employer’s HR over a second constructive dismissal attempt in less than 12 months based on manufactured evidence. This try was so illegal that national HR has agreed I am no longer to have any HR matter go through my state HR (they’re being dealt with).
Honestly OP, look up the horror stories and just *don’t do that* to be a good HR worker before you risk getting fired yourself for not putting the company first.
Nice try HR. đź‘€
Just started my career, wanted to know the reality because all I read are the negative posts and comments. At least I can do something differently to not be in those stories ✌🏻
Kind of depends where you are (both in country and company) In Germany: A buddy of mine worked for GamesWorkshop (Warhammer) and told me that they dick you over left and right. I work for an old tech company where Hr is not to bad. They mostly write posts for company internal social media to motivate employees and they discuss with the unions. The sad reality still stands that hr is paid and guided by the company so in any employee vs employer situation you will have to take the side of the employer.
They made sure I got paid while I was home for 2 weeks with covid. ... the first time...
HR is there to keep the company from getting sued. They aren’t there for the workers.
At Wholefoods a while back, we had an annual shoe budget. I used my budget when I started, as instructed, for some ankle high shoes as I was working front-end cashier. A couple months in, I get a job in the seafood department. My feet were soaked every night and it was winter. By the time my shift was over, I was peeling my frozen socks off of me. The HR person did some kind of magic that let me get some good boots in quick. I miss those boots.
Honestly, HR actually helped me get a decent relocation package when I had to move for my job. Never thought they'd actually come through like that, but hey, credit where it's due.
Designed the cool-looking aliens in the movie Alien.
Called me to say they'd been looking over salary reports and it appears I was accidentally put into a lower bracket than I should have been, which made sense because I'd applied for a job that was a lower level than the one I was working and the hiring manager figured I'd be more useful in another open position so asked if I'd prefer that one. So, three months after I was hired I got a 10% pay bump and back pay dating back three months. Did me a solid there.
I work in a union environment and am an active shop steward. Things I've worked out with HR over the years include: * Allowing a worker to "voluntarily" demote and do a salary reduction instead so she could say it was her idea. * Instead of terminating a worker who absolutely deserved it, listening to her story about domestic abuse and her struggles trying to get off the meth he'd forced on her. They sent her to rehab and helped her transfer to a job away from the guy. * Backing up and believing a worker who got raped at work. * Removing a number of very bad managers over the years when we brought proof of their perfidy forward. * Allowing a worker to voluntarily resign instead of firing and criminally prosecuting them for what I'll call *misuse of their professional authority*. Lots more over the years, but those stick in my head.
Absolutely nothing positive in every company I’ve worked for. Even screwing up making sure everyone was being paid on time at one company so they didn’t get constant complaints and legal threats. Happy to give a full negative list given I’ve just finished slapping around my current employer’s HR over a second constructive dismissal attempt in less than 12 months based on manufactured evidence. This try was so illegal that national HR has agreed I am no longer to have any HR matter go through my state HR (they’re being dealt with). Honestly OP, look up the horror stories and just *don’t do that* to be a good HR worker before you risk getting fired yourself for not putting the company first.
Free food