I'm the HR Bitch! Ask me Anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a manager at a hospital and has been having personality-type conflicts with one of her employees that require her to have meetings with the employee and HR. This is not the first time (or the first job) in which my sister had dramatic meetings with other employees and/or HR. I am in another city and I only hear her side of things, but I am beginning to wonder: Is this normal, or is she a drama queen? Opinions?

Sorry, but it's probably her.

[Anonymous]

I would never assume anything I said to HR was truly confidential. Only lawyers, doctors, priests and therapists are obligated by law and ethics to strictly observe confidentiality. For the rest, I say caveat emptor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your feeling towards employees who work remotely?

Ideally, they will come into the office once a week. That way they get a chance to feel included and not ignored because they're on speaker phone in a meeting with 10 other people, and nothing beats face-to-face communication. I truly don't mind it at all, and for the people with long commutes I think telecommuting keeps burnout at bay. But when an in-house employee calls me because they were trying to reach a remote employee and overheard a child screaming "Mom, can we buy this?!" then it kind of pisses me off. Go throw in a load of laundry, be home for the cable guy, stuff like that. But don't go doing your errands and try to attend a meeting remotely while you're in the dressing room of Macy's or walking the supermarket aisles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wanted to say that I've enjoyed this thread and other posts you've made this week HR Bitch.

Aww, thanks! I know HR people get a bad rap, and sometimes it's deserved. I just do my best every day I go to work to show that sometimes it's also not deserved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR is an business overhead, therefore your salary prospects will always be limited.
Why are you not looking for other options

Money is not the only goal. I'm happy with my salary.

[Anonymous]

I worked in HR for a couple of years but I got so sick of screams of discrimination by minorities and pregnant/nursing women constantly complaining that company wasn't following law and hheir veiled threats of suing and I am a female. I got out of HR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked in HR for a couple of years but I got so sick of screams of discrimination by minorities and pregnant/nursing women constantly complaining that company wasn't following law and hheir veiled threats of suing and I am a female. I got out of HR.

It's definitely not for everyone, and at different companies you'll get different types of people. Sorry it didn't work out for you - hope you found another field that makes you happy.

[Anonymous]

But HR Bitch--are you a FEDERAL HR Bitch? That takes your intel to a new level. Do tell--I'm sure many posters will have new questions for you, if so.

[Anonymous]

Why do I know more about our HR policies and benefits than our HR staff? When they were hiring me, I actually had to explain things to them. Basic things, like what the 403b contribution was. It's a non-profit, if that matters. It's like they're obtuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HR is an business overhead, therefore your salary prospects will always be limited.
Why are you not looking for other options

Money is not the only goal. I'm happy with my salary.

Salary prospects are actually really great for good HR people. Just check salary.com to see the range for Directors and VPs

[Anonymous]

Why do job postings ask for salary requirements? Is your application overlooked if you do not answer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do job postings ask for salary requirements? Is your application overlooked if you do not answer?

+1. Also, why do many job postings not list the salary? With a govt job you can figure out a salary range by the GS level. But often I don't know whether a posted job is worth my while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do job postings ask for salary requirements? Is your application overlooked if you do not answer?

+1. Also, why do many job postings not list the salary? With a govt job you can figure out a salary range by the GS level. But often I don't know whether a posted job is worth my while.

+1 Enough with the "salary is competitive" or "salary commensurate with experience" bullshit. Just give us the range already. It's not that big of a secret and I don't appreciate when employers act coy about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But HR Bitch--are you a FEDERAL HR Bitch? That takes your intel to a new level. Do tell--I'm sure many posters will have new questions for you, if so.

I don't work for the gov., sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do I know more about our HR policies and benefits than our HR staff? When they were hiring me, I actually had to explain things to them. Basic things, like what the 403b contribution was. It's a non-profit, if that matters. It's like they're obtuse.

I once worked at a company (for the summer, in college) where they told me that "Anna" became office manager when they tried to hire her for my job but found her English wasn't good enough. People wind up in HR in all kinds of different ways.