Can you ever really be friends with your HR manager?
In this posting from the LinkedIn Agency Influencer program, Publicis Media’s Alex Delehunt wonders whether it’s wise to get to know staff in the human resource department
Following on from my previous article (What I Wish Someone Told Me Before Starting in HR), some of the comments from people got me thinking if you can (and should you) be friends with your HR manager?
As a HR person myself, I have felt first hand the divide between the HR team and the rest of the office. It’s not a personality thing (I don’t think!), but rather they view you as ‘the other’ who will judge their every move and maybe have to have tough conversations with them one day. Is this a good thing to keep a casual distance?
Publicis Media’s Alex Delehunt
Anyone that tells you that HR is there for the employees particularly in the media / advertising space is full of it. HR are there to screw the employees in line with policies and legislation and make sure that companies dont have to resource staff beyond what is legal and pay their staff the least amount possible to get their maximum pound of flesh.
Most HR reps are patronising 20 something graduates in their first or second jobs with no life experience who will smile at you as fast as stab you in the back. The disgraceful recent events at Seven serve as evidence for how Media HR team views and treats the people they were supposed to assist and represent.
The first lesson in working with a media company is dont trust HR. If the shit hits the fan, dont tell them anything, dont believe a word they say and find a good lawyer!