I'm the HR Bitch! Ask me Anything

[Anonymous]

Wow. I've had jobs since I was 15. The only reason my parents would ever get involved is if there was harassment or discrimination and even then, not when I'm an adult! What sorts of losers are these 23 yr olds? Is it cultural? Are they east or south Asian?

[Anonymous]

The helicopter parents are not embarrassed to call HR on behalf of their kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I've had jobs since I was 15. The only reason my parents would ever get involved is if there was harassment or discrimination and even then, not when I'm an adult! What sorts of losers are these 23 yr olds? Is it cultural? Are they east or south Asian?

I was about to say it's everyone, but then realized I can't think of any black employees whose parents have gotten overly involved. More men than women, though still women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The helicopter parents are not embarrassed to call HR on behalf of their kids?

They don't seem to be. They seem shocked that it's not welcomed, because aren't we all here to help Tyler do as well as he possibly can in his First Big Boy Job? Realizing their child isn't in school, that IEP's and 504's don't apply for the most part, is a harsh reality for many parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us your funniest helicopter parent of an applicantor employee story.

In the last few years we have begun getting parental involvement. It pops up unexpectedly. There was a woman who had to submit a writing sample and we found out later that her older sister wrote it for her at their parents' insistence. To me though, the best was the outtake photo series. A young man came for his first day, and just like kindergarten, his mother wanted to stay with him for a little while until she decided he was comfortable enough for him to leave. We have a two-day training schedule for new employees that's very tight - in some places it's broken down into 15-minute increments. One of the first things we do is to get new employees their work ID, complete with photo. We work with a professional photographer.

So I told the new employee that he could not bring anyone who was NOT an employee or client past a certain set of doors until he was past his probationary period, and that we really needed to stick to the schedule so it didn't get backed up. That he was expected on the 26th floor for his photo ID. We talked a bit more (I basically ignored the mother) and then I pointed him towards the elevators. When I next saw him the mother was gone.

Later that afternoon I got an email from the photographer that had the subject line "Outtakes!" Picture of new employee with his mom licking her fingers, pic of NE with mom smoothing down his hair, pic of NE with mom taking a pic of him HAVING HIS PIC TAKEN. Here is why I'm a bitch: I have this printed out and tacked up on my bulletin board in my office at home. Cracks me up every time.

This is awesome!

+1. It cracks me up just reading about it.

That said, I want to love you guys, I do, but sometimes it's tough. Why is it when I email HR about something important (to me at least), like getting my FSA forms in on time, it takes weeks to get a response? Even when I start emailing every two days. If there's a good excuse, like maybe systems issues, or my particular case is so bizarre they don't know what to do, can't they just send a temporary response? Maybe something along the lines of "thanks for your patience, we're still working out systems issues, but we'll let you know as soon as possible!" That would avoid the feeling that my emails are lost in a black hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I've had jobs since I was 15. The only reason my parents would ever get involved is if there was harassment or discrimination and even then, not when I'm an adult! What sorts of losers are these 23 yr olds? Is it cultural? Are they east or south Asian?

I was about to say it's everyone, but then realized I can't think of any black employees whose parents have gotten overly involved. More men than women, though still women.

Does it come down to the SES of the parents? Ie, more parental involvement from parents who are college educated, have good jobs and are not ESL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The helicopter parents are not embarrassed to call HR on behalf of their kids?

They don't seem to be. They seem shocked that it's not welcomed, because aren't we all here to help Tyler do as well as he possibly can in his First Big Boy Job? Realizing their child isn't in school, that IEP's and 504's don't apply for the most part, is a harsh reality for many parents.

OMG!

[Anonymous]

+1. It cracks me up just reading about it.

That said, I want to love you guys, I do, but sometimes it's tough. Why is it when I email HR about something important (to me at least), like getting my FSA forms in on time, it takes weeks to get a response? Even when I start emailing every two days. If there's a good excuse, like maybe systems issues, or my particular case is so bizarre they don't know what to do, can't they just send a temporary response? Maybe something along the lines of "thanks for your patience, we're still working out systems issues, but we'll let you know as soon as possible!" That would avoid the feeling that my emails are lost in a black hole.

I know that often there are deadlines and everyone starts rushing their forms in near them so my insurance HR people get swamped. That may be it? If not, it's just personality. Some people simply don't respond to an email until they can give you the info they know you want. You're saying you want an email saying, "I've gotten your request and am working on finding out the answer for you."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I've had jobs since I was 15. The only reason my parents would ever get involved is if there was harassment or discrimination and even then, not when I'm an adult! What sorts of losers are these 23 yr olds? Is it cultural? Are they east or south Asian?

I was about to say it's everyone, but then realized I can't think of any black employees whose parents have gotten overly involved. More men than women, though still women.

Does it come down to the SES of the parents? Ie, more parental involvement from parents who are college educated, have good jobs and are not ESL?

I don't know what the parents' educational background is, or how much they earn, nor do I pay that much attention to them. Honestly, what you said is offensive to a lot of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

+1. It cracks me up just reading about it.

That said, I want to love you guys, I do, but sometimes it's tough. Why is it when I email HR about something important (to me at least), like getting my FSA forms in on time, it takes weeks to get a response? Even when I start emailing every two days. If there's a good excuse, like maybe systems issues, or my particular case is so bizarre they don't know what to do, can't they just send a temporary response? Maybe something along the lines of "thanks for your patience, we're still working out systems issues, but we'll let you know as soon as possible!" That would avoid the feeling that my emails are lost in a black hole.

I know that often there are deadlines and everyone starts rushing their forms in near them so my insurance HR people get swamped. That may be it? If not, it's just personality. Some people simply don't respond to an email until they can give you the info they know you want. You're saying you want an email saying, "I've gotten your request and am working on finding out the answer for you."

Well, yes, when it's been two weeks (in that particular case) and the FSA deadline has actually passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1. It cracks me up just reading about it.

That said, I want to love you guys, I do, but sometimes it's tough. Why is it when I email HR about something important (to me at least), like getting my FSA forms in on time, it takes weeks to get a response? Even when I start emailing every two days. If there's a good excuse, like maybe systems issues, or my particular case is so bizarre they don't know what to do, can't they just send a temporary response? Maybe something along the lines of "thanks for your patience, we're still working out systems issues, but we'll let you know as soon as possible!" That would avoid the feeling that my emails are lost in a black hole.

I know that often there are deadlines and everyone starts rushing their forms in near them so my insurance HR people get swamped. That may be it? If not, it's just personality. Some people simply don't respond to an email until they can give you the info they know you want. You're saying you want an email saying, "I've gotten your request and am working on finding out the answer for you."

Well, yes, when it's been two weeks (in that particular case) and the FSA deadline has actually passed.

That sucks; I'm sorry that's happened to you. If HR is in the same building as you, I'd suggest you go talk to them in person, and then memorialize the conversation in an email to them to CYA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would help if we know what you did in HR to ask you questions - HR is a broad area. As is typical HR staff, you are vauge and unhelpful.

As is typical with people who stereotype HR people without taking the time to get to know them individually, had you read my opening statement you'd have seen that I DID say what I do in HR. But, as is typical with most employees since you are lazy I will repeat myself: I handle hiring and recruiting.

Wow, see how it hurts when people make sweeping generalizations? Yeah.

Is it your lunch hour?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The helicopter parents are not embarrassed to call HR on behalf of their kids?

They don't seem to be. They seem shocked that it's not welcomed, because aren't we all here to help Tyler do as well as he possibly can in his First Big Boy Job? Realizing their child isn't in school, that IEP's and 504's don't apply for the most part, is a harsh reality for many parents.

Is that where the kids get it? Because I have had more than one 20-something get offended when I remind them that we are paying them to do a job. "But I'm here to learn!" No, that's school, where you pay them. Here, you do what we tell you to do, whether you're interested or not. (These were master's level people, no less.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I've had jobs since I was 15. The only reason my parents would ever get involved is if there was harassment or discrimination and even then, not when I'm an adult! What sorts of losers are these 23 yr olds? Is it cultural? Are they east or south Asian?

I was about to say it's everyone, but then realized I can't think of any black employees whose parents have gotten overly involved. More men than women, though still women.

Does it come down to the SES of the parents? Ie, more parental involvement from parents who are college educated, have good jobs and are not ESL?

I don't know what the parents' educational background is, or how much they earn, nor do I pay that much attention to them. Honestly, what you said is offensive to a lot of people.

Why is it offensive? Higher SES better enables you to advocate for yourself others because you have more time, money, knowledge, connections and belief you can change things compared to people who are too busy with and tired from everyday life to have a moment to even think about it. SES does not equal interest in or love of your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The helicopter parents are not embarrassed to call HR on behalf of their kids?

They don't seem to be. They seem shocked that it's not welcomed, because aren't we all here to help Tyler do as well as he possibly can in his First Big Boy Job? Realizing their child isn't in school, that IEP's and 504's don't apply for the most part, is a harsh reality for many parents.

Is that where the kids get it? Because I have had more than one 20-something get offended when I remind them that we are paying them to do a job. "But I'm here to learn!" No, that's school, where you pay them. Here, you do what we tell you to do, whether you're interested or not. (These were master's level people, no less.)

I assume so. Too busy working to really delve into it.