The Ugly Truth About HR
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 27. 06. 2024
- The ugly truth about HR. The truth about HR is that HR is not your friend. It's not designed to advocate for the employee and it never has been. So if it's not an employee advocate, what is your Human Resources department for? Well in this video I disclose the true purpose of your HR department.
0:00 - intro
1:55 - HR is not your friend
3:29 - Negativity toward HR
8:49 - HRs primary purpose
9:27 - HRs secondary purpose
11:54 - HRs final purpose
14:29 - You are a free agent
15:47 - Think before you engage them
18:28 - HR is always listening
19:03 - If you need help in your career
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Translation: The purpose of HR is to protect the company FROM the employee.
This hits home. makes so much sense that employees have to go so far as to create Unions which are like a separate entity.. and companies HATE that.
@@KingBobIsHere Unions hold companies accountable and the rights of the workers most companies take advantage of and exploit.
BINGO!!
You got it
Exactly that
In my experience, going to HR to complain about being abused gets you fired.
That sounds illegal.
@@Boss3n oh, that's funny
100% correct!! It recently happened to a colleague of mine!!
Yup! I lost hours because of it! While the person I complained about (and could probably get a ppo from) kept their hours.
I complained to HR about my boss who was incredibly abusive. We had a mediation and of course the HR lady took my bossâs side. I quit the next day.
After 13 years working, I realized that in reality, I'm on my own. Don't get too attached with people at work, do your job and save up an emergency fund and focus on passive income.
TOTALLY AGREED!
Mums
You're right. The hard part to figure out for most people will be figuring out that passive income. Semi passive is fine, i.e. etsy, ebay, amazon shops and your own website. You still have to do something, but it's a good source of income. Realestate would be great for passive income, but if you don't have property already..... good luck, odds are not in your favor with corporations buying up everything and paying way over asking price. If you have property and get approached, give them deterrent pricing with the contingency that since the USD is rapidly losing value, you need millions AND another property in trade. When they say that's ridiculous, tell them good. It's deterrent pricing.
Just got fired and was treated like a criminal. And eventhough i am a protected class... the unfortunate event that was the " last straw" was everything to do with my medical issue i had raised earlier.
@@semperfi-1918 They treat everyone like a criminal, they think you'll retaliate. I was escorted out of every job I've been fired from. Oh also, all "A protected class" means is that HR has to cross their T's and dot their I's a little more carefully on the paperwork. I.E. they'll find a reason and make sure it doesn't cause an issue. (Here's something to think about also, if I were a hiring manager, I would see a "protected class" as someone that would be difficult to fire if things didn't work out. The white guy that nobody advocates for at all though, it would be easy as hell to fire him if it didn't work out. The policies with good intentions sometimes have the opposite effect).
Employers are currently complaining about not being able to hire employees but don't consider how they treat employees.......
@@pikachulovesketchup666 or you're just f****** incompetent because they want a Porsche 911 and they know damn well they exist so you must not be able to do your job
Lmfao!
I mean I'm sure you already figured that went without saying as being the only other alternative when you didn't name it but I couldn't resist acting like a idiot dick in a position of authority long enough long enough to become removed from what it takes to do the job that they're now (mis) managingđ
There'll always be high-ball and low-ball offers in every market, and fortunately or unfortunately, that applies to labor as well. However, the value a given employee contributes to a company is variable, and influenced by several factors.
I know its funny as hell
Or what they pay them.
@@pikachulovesketchup666 "Where are all the good men? ..." Same effect
Best thing I was told when I first got hired: HR is NOT your friend!
Think of HR like a mean junk yard dog. It works for who feeds it! Who feed it? The Company. HR is not on your side! Forget this at your own detriment.
Unless you have a disability ADA lawsuits because of ignorant bosses are bad for business
I'd say that your employer is not your friend in general, and HR is a mercenary working on their behalf, just like you.
Exactly they are there to protect the company from getting sued by the employees.
Very true. The least they can do is to âput a knife to your throatâ.
Always crack up when I see some job posting. âEntry Level, requires 15 years experience, and a PHD for job as a cashierâ.
@@_baller exactly why i suggest start becoming a natural actor who already has the necessary experience. honestly will probably won't even land an interview.
đđđđđ
I'm glad I have retired from the work world.
@@_baller exactly. i tell new grads looking for jobs this and they get weird about lying but wonder why they are unemployed.
đŻagree! I have a Bachelorâs degree, 20 yrs working in GOVT, and I am in school working on my Masterâs and I will get rejected saying that I donât have enough experience or that there are more qualified people and itâs an entry-level job with the lowest salary. đł
Iâm in HR and I can tell you, NEVER go to anyone complaining about a senior manager or executive. Regardless of the no retaliation policy the company will find a way to get rid of you. Iâve seen it happen over and over again.
How about a Lawyer
I love how we all just accept this instead of trying to change it
Yup. Either they will gaslight you into wanting to leave yourself, or will find a supposedly unrelated reason to can you.
@@syndicalist-0 Itâs not accepting but realizing the truth
I was on the other end of that for years, employment arbitration. I think the caveat to this is that it really depends on what the complaint is about. If the complaint was a true (provable) issue based in some form of illegality, I've seen plenty of these cases won by the claimant (employee).
As someone whose significant other is a senior VP of HR, I can tell you right now - DO NOT GO TO HR unless you are planning your exit! Even if you are going to them with an illegal or ethical issues or event a risk to the organization that you have identified having nothing to do with you, YOU become the problem and will be flagged as a potential risk to the company yourself. Very few things are worth going to HR for. If you are complaining about harassment or a toxic situation - don't. Just create a six-month exit plan, perform your best work, document the hell out of everything and leave with a smile. The company's problems are not worth your career. If the situation is immediately unsafe, just gather as much documentation as you can and quit as soon as possible.
Totally agree. Treat yourself as a free agent and leave a bad team.
Also gather evidence for any future lawsuit.
I was at this one job and I was training a new employee. I told him point blank, "If you get punched in the face by so and so or any other employee and wondering, 'what should I do?' I have no idea what you are supposed to do."
Iâve been in HR Management for many years and what your husband says is 100 percent correct.
And be vary about those anonymous employee surveys. They are not. Even if it none sense and you don't participate or skip question (if it was even an option), they will get to you. Not every company of course but there are those HR leaders who have to clue how to set up a will crafted survey and then would remind you to take it if you haven't' done so yet.
I was in HR for 35 years. My view is that the higher you go in the HR structure, the more selfish, political, and morally bankrupt they are. Those poor, misguided and unthinking souls.
Yes, and I'd add heartless to the list.
How high up did you go? ;-)
Bobâs right
Actually that's the same for probably every kind of position. For instance, in academia, all the junior professors are so nice, but once they turn into full professors all of them become extremely evil.
3 years in it. and l am ready to leave đ
I don't give two week notices. I don't stay late or come in early. I don't advertise for them. I don't recruit for them. I come in on time, keep my mouth shut and do just what my job description states and when a better opportunity comes about I just leave and take it. No notice, no exit interviews. Nothing. I owe them nothing.
Because they really don't give their employees or the community/city/area they are in anything but expect EVERYTHING! land, tax credits, water resources, advertisement, a say in schools!!! (In America)
@@Black.Sabbath all my friends are happy to give me references as former coworkers.
Who do you use for a reference?
@@michaelcosta7235 My question is what if a prospective employer calls them and they say you're not eligible for rehire?
@@jackcarraway4707 I don't care what they say. It's never stopped me from getting a job and most HRs are too worried about lawsuits that they give yes or no only answers.
I disagree. NEVER tell HR if you've been sexually harassed until you've spoken to a lawyer first. You will almost certainly be punished for reporting sexual harassment. Speak to any woman (and some men) about it and they will tell you that's the case.
Unrelated but nice PFP brođ
HR is like the secret police monitoring conversations and waiting for an excuse to whack someone.
The main function of HR is to make sure you donât sue the company lol. Great video!
actually more like make sure you can't sue by documenting all interactions.
Sad thing is that employers donât realize that itâs such a huge part of our job! Iâve been asked on details of my private conversations with employees & I donât tell them!
i agree
I've sued the shit out of a company because of HR's fuckery!! Three different times!!
@@MannyLoxx2010 đ€Łđ€Łđđ
This guy couldn't have said it clearer (and should not be criticized). (A) HR is not your friend (B) HR works for executive management (C) HR's primary job duties are to minimize/eliminate risk to the company (i.e. you), not protect the employee (D) You have to take charge of your own career. To companies you are just a number on a spreadsheet. They don't give a shit about you. If they can find someone to do your job for less (even if you have been there for 10 years and are a loyal employee) they are not going to care about you. They will lay you off in a second. Companies and Managers will tell you to stay the course and your hard work will pay off. If you're not developing skills and increasing your value its on you to seek those opportunities and enrich yourself even if it means leaving your present employer who tells you everything is great and they just gave you a $2-3K raise. After so many of those raises you will become expensive and they can get someone out of college to do your job and they will drop you like a load of bricks and not look back. Look out after you. Think of your career akin to getting onto an airplane. When you get on the plane they tell you if cabin pressure drops masks will come down. Put your mask on before helping someone else. Translation - if you pass our you can't help anyone else and will also be screwed yourself. If you aren't getting what you need to develop yourself you need to put your mask on and leave your company/department to go somewhere where you can grow. If you don't take care of yourself nobody else will and HR definitely can't/won't!
Excellent summary.
@@ALifeAfterLayoff Which HR roles do you suggest me to focus on? i work in hr since many years, but i d like to focuse in something where the "corporate politics" is a bit less present and where competence is a key factor. Does it exists? đ congratulations for this beautiful channel! đȘđŒ
Well written!.
Well written response Goblin. I wish I had learned that 10 years ago.
You're right. Here's the thing: Corporate America is a cruel place. If you have loyalty to your company you need to be aware that they have no loyalty to you. Your relationship with your company is just business. I'm not saying that to be negative, just realistic. Blaming HR for that is misplaced. HR has to carry out the needs of the business. If they are directed to fire you, they might be sad about it but they will do it anyway. They have no other choice unless they want to get fired themselves - sometimes an HR rep will have to fire 10 people one day then get fired themselves the next day. A worker needs to keep their skills marketable so they can support themselves no matter what happens.
This is absolutely true. You will find no better representation of this other than catching a terminal illness while on the company insurance. You suddenly became a burden to them and they'll get you off one way or the other. It doesn't matter to them that you could die without it.
Exactly
@@bryonmiller4326 So why do we the average person put up with this? I know that we can't survive without money, but truly, is there nothing that can be done? I would be so bold to state that corporate America is ruining this country! Why do we have to care for something that doesn't care about us?
@@laminarflow6072 the only thing you can do is start your own thing and become an entrepreneur. Outside of that just understand where we all sit in loyalty to a company, i don't care abt the employer. My only concern is my pay, my ability to climb ladders, and gaining experience that I'll use elsewhere for more money. The businesses kick people out over insurance because those in government helped make the costs astronomical. Regulations dictate allot of this behavior.
HR knows DAYS in advance who is going to get fired, because they had to do the legwork to CTA they donât want to get suedâŠ
A C-Suite executive told me once.
"You have a problem and tell HR? Now you have two problems."
An HR SVP told me "HR is not there to protect you from the company, it's there to protect the company from you."
T H I S
Follow the money - the company pays HR, so they work for the company, not you.
HR is often the enemy. The fact that you had to make a channel so people can navigate through all that BS is a prove of that.
I went to head of HR to complain about being screwed over a job promotion and he came at me with how to get rid of the Union which is illegal for him to do that.
Bingo
@@ricogomez4020 HR came about so employees don't unionize.
HR is NOT for the employee. I remember working at a company where an executive was racially harassing me and when I complained to HR they forced me out of the job. Mind you, I had zero write-ups, ZERO discipline issues, ZERO complaints. But they made it difficult for me to work there. Just how it works.
This kind of reminds me of how in school, if the kid getting bullied decided to fight back, they will get suspended while the bully often won't
When you report a thief to HR, HR would let the thief get away Scott free and investigate on you (the informer) instead. I watch this in every Corporate America. HR is NOT for the employee.
Wow
I'm going through this now đȘ
@@Maria-gj3nd me too.
As a former HR investigator, the provided information is very accurate.
Most people seem to forget who pays the HR personnel. đ
An HR rep who goes against the wishes of their employer would NOT last long.
HR should be renamed "Employee Compliance"
Human resources means that it's a department that manages humans AS a resource, not resources FOR humans. I think it's that misinterpretation that is the cause for alot of the animosity because people feel betrayed when HR acts in the best interest of the business like he talks about in the video
Imagine being fired for such a personal and unprofessional reason that HR isn't even involved. That's how I know HR is absolutely biased.
As an Exec I appreciate your up front transparency regarding HR's true role in an organization. I've seen employees and HR staff get confused about the role. I've seen compassionate HR staff treat their role as a mental health counselor, only to be let go themselves because of not being aligned with the needs of the org or the Board. I've seen staff reach out to HR thinking it was in confidence (harassment), only to find out after they disclosed that HR was required to push it up the chain and start an investigation. HR is not your friend, no matter how friendly they are. Think of HR as the Casino's Pit Boss. They are there to make sure nothing gets out of hand, but primarily to protect the interests of the house. If somebody is winning too much, the pit boss can change out the dealer, close the table. The Pit Boss MAY want you to have a good time while you are spending your money. But they are there for the casino, not you.
This HR is similar to Universities Financial Aid departments
Great analogy.
Just laid off after a coworker and myself reported fraud, waste and abuse within the hospital. Not a coincidence.
Hospital management is usually toxic.
HR is not your friend period!! They look out for the companies interest only
Beware of confiding in fellow employees that may be rats for HR/MGT, they will stab you in the back
@@donaldoehl7690 SO TRUE! I see this n action EVERY DAY, in every Corporate America.
Odds of keeping your job after going to HR: slim to none.
Act accordingly.
That means if you are being harassed, you either have to put up with it or leave.
@@bmoshareholderappleshareho855 Just makes sure to wreck the person causing it on the way out. Don't put up with a damn thing.
Great content! I always keep my resume sharp no matter how "secure" my role may seem. I dont ever work "for" companies. I work "with" companies and only for as long as our interests are aligned, and they can afford my time.
Best!
I always suggest that to people bc I do the same thg
Good way of looking at it âwithâ donât get too emotionally involved
This may be the best thing Iâve ever read on the internet đ€Ż
well said...as long as its in my best interest to stay at a company i will...when its not i walk...
This is SO well said. Good for you. â€
I honestly want HR to make cold calculated decisions. I hate how often favoritism is the reason for an employeeâs success. I go to work to do a job and I wish to be judged by the quality of my work and what I can contribute, not how much the boss likes me.
I have seen it too much where employers grant their employees really great opportunities simply because the like them or they are related. And meanwhile they leave well qualified and talented individuals in the dust. Itâs just not right.
Thatâs fine. If employers want to promote incompetent people to a position for the sole purpose of âbecause they like themâ as opposed to the competent person who excels but who they just donât like, let them. Their business will fail when the good people who are passed over leave and only the incompetent people behind.
Don't go military then. Favoritism is rampant. Especially concerning women. You think they get special treatment in the civilian world? Times that by 100 in the military. It's absolutely disgusting. I'm going seals just so I don't have to deal with women in the military anymore.
@@smithsmith1956 Also donât go military because it is fucking inhumane to have your job be killing humans.
Of course, it is right. Who wants to work with a qualified and talented asshole? Nobody.
A less qualified and talented nice person is to be preferred every day of the week.
And guess what? HR will favour your management.
If I quit a job in the future, my reason will be: âThe company is no longer viewed as a fit for the strategic vision of *insert my name here*.â
In most states, and instances, giving a reason for quitting is NOT mandatory.
Perhaps, if you would like to POSSIBLY reapply with them in the future...
I'm using this thanks.
@@kathconstance4684 youâre welcome!
I can almost guarantee that they will take it personally, and they will get butthurt if you try to apply with them again (They never seem to consider or care that nothing is "just business" when you're on the receiving end)
I'm with you though, that reason is hilarious. And hey, if it is good enough for them, it should be good enough for you.
It blows my mind that companies still act like this and expect you to give them everything. Leaving? 2 weeks notice required! Companies want to dump you, GTFO!
thats why i can never invest myself into a company fully. because they only want me when they need me and will dump me without a moment's notice. thats why i will do the bare minimum
@@_baller so true. If you are not under a contract, it is totally up to you if you want to give your employer notice. I do and I work very hard in the final two weeks, because I want to be missed and get good references for future employers. I do it for myself not the company.
This is why Unions are good to have. Sadly, so much propaganda is out there to demonize unions.
Amazon's Bezos spent 10k per day on such propaganda, lawyers, and others to squash the Retail Union in AL.
Unions keep crony capitalism at bay. A good union is the checks and balances between the company and the worker.
@@_baller
I worked for a company that no longer needed me when I turned in my 2-week notice.
I gave it to my supervisor who turned it over to the HR Manager, who called me into her office and let me go right then.
I was a good worker, on time, did my job well, was leaving when my husband got a better job in another state.
@@missireason8998 you are fooling yourself if you believe anything other than unions are good and bad. Not one or the other.
HR exists to keep the company from getting sued by "disgruntled employees."
I am surprised that so many folks are surprised about HR.
I learned this lesson the hard way.
I worked for a large company for over 23 years. One day I received a pay stub at my home but it had some else's name. So the first thing on my mind is where did my pay stub go. There is plenty of personal information on it so I am naturally concerned. The next day an email from the HR department is sent explaining they made an error and it clearly stated "please come see me if you have any questions", and I did. I met up with her and we had a very cordial and to-the-point discussion. No emotion. We only spoke for a couple minutes. I gave her the stub that I received (I hadn't opened the letter) and asked if she could let be know if my stub was return opened. My concern was with my personal information. I was very satisfied with her answers, thanked her and left. I made no demands of her, did not ask how it happened, made no accusations, wasn't interested in any of the details at all. They were obviously on top of it and in the end I had no worries.
Well, next day my manager calls me into the office. Seems I broke protocol. That HR person, the department that was supposed to be on my side, was very upset that I met up with her and not through my manager. So upset she brought the matter up to the PRESIDENT of the company and it worked its way down 2 levels of management back to me. I was absolutely perplexed, upset and stunned. I though we'd had an excellent, brief discussion. I pointed out to my manager the sentence in the email to "come see me if you have any questions". He nodded and understood, but I should have known that this organization made it look like they have open-door policies but that was clearly not the case. My manager was caught between me and upper management, and he picked upper management to support. He made it clear that I should have gone through him no matter what the email said, and that I was an idiot to go talk to another manager. I always somewhat knew that each department had it's own little empire builder but I got suckered into thinking that everyone was on friendly, open and honest terms including my direct manager. I never spoke with a manager from another department again. I was a real company person and had volunteered any time they needed help but after this event I stopped volunteering and even stopped putting in extra effort. That event took the pride of working for that company completely out of me. I threw out all the logo'd swag that I'd earned through volunteering over the years and never went back for a visit after retiring early.
Moral of the story is there is no loyalty to employees. Volunteering and putting in extra effort count for nothing in the end.
I used to do payroll for a small company. The company wasn't doing well and they decided to lay people off. I was handed the list of people they were laying off. One of the people listed was on her honeymoon. I went to my boss and asked him how he wanted me to handle her last check. He said, I'll be right back. 5 minutes later he handed me a revised list. The girl on her honeymoon was removed and someone else in her group had been added in her place. I ended up leaving myself a few months later and I have never done, nor will do, payroll ever again.
Best advice I have heard for when you are being ganged up on is, "Keep as quiet as possible, do not confirm any allegations against you, and be positive about the company. HR most likely does not know you, HR is going off of what they have been told even if it is a lie or misrepresentation, and if you are targeted by the click that runs most companies you are at the disadvantage. Basically they were saying that honesty, integrity, and ethics is for victims and suckers.
@EpyonX You think any other system has ethics? đđđđ.
Itâs either you or them. If your not picking the winner, itâs gonna be you.
@EpyonX Gen x but whatever.
Radically Centerist Sorry, but this is not good advice. A person internalizing all this bad treatment will be abusive towards members of their family, or do something very regrettable at work eventually.
@@Afrocanuk Why do you think that violence has spiked in the United States? Two reasons: Gang violence and industrialization/de-humanization. It is a fact that liars and cheaters excel. It's undeniable. We're surrounded in the proof.
HR is used to catch any potential lawsuits against the company before employees go find legal help. Never talk to HR, document wrongdoings and sue them
If it's a business decision for the company, then why do managers get pissed off when employees leave for another opportunity?
Because they are hypocrites.
This dude is great at being straightforward and honest while explaining things well.
Iâve worked in HR for 18 years, and he is spot on about the function of HR. If it ever really comes down to it, HR will always side with whoever signs their paycheck, even if they know itâs the wrong side.
In other words, they are not a police department.
HR here. I think itâs funny how employees think we are there to protect them. And to be honest I feel it puts HR staff in a horrible spot. We often times have to go against what we know is morally right in order for us to put food on the table for our families. True HR is very tactical and administrative. Employee complaints and legal issue should be left to 3rd party HR consulting groups.
@@kellynorbutt6542 you have a very warm place waiting for you in hell
@@kellynorbutt6542 What is the limit where bad behavior becomes inexcusable? Why should you be able to put food on the table for your family while others cannot thanks to that behavior?
Interesting vid. Clearly he's telling us what HR "should" be, not what they actually are. Never in my 40 years + in the job market have I worked for a company, regardless of what size, that worked the way he says they do and I've had some great jobs. He is right though the HR is NOT your friend, in fact there are many cases of where they are downright hostile to workers.
And yet they (meaning companies) still try to perpetuate the fiction of the company being a "family" and they expect our "loyalty."
So true...they gave my office a plaque with family, loyalty, honesty bla! bla! in the 3years I have watched them lie, hide and cover for their co workers
I've always referred to the HR department as "the legal department"
Too bad most HR personnel barely have any type of degree or certification. đ€Šđ»ââïž
@@grunge1059 San Dimas High School Football RULES!
@@James-li8cm I was just listening to that song lol
Sadly my experience is that HR attracts the type of people who love to have power
It's kind of interesting cause superficially they say they care for people, but then their actions don't connect. Do you think a sociopath/psychopath thrives well in there?
HR is not your friend and you are responsible for your own career. Don't ever expect HR to be there when you need them. But again, take responsibility for your own career. Keep your skills up and your options open. Great advice.
I got this explained to me fairly early in my career from a personal connection that worked in HR and it helped me a lot. Basically he said HR will always side with the employer, HR is not your friend and their true purpose is to protect the employer from any labor laws or any other legal issue between the employee and the employer by following procedures and ensuring everything is up to scratch on both sides regarding benefits, contract, etc. But at the end of the day one has to be wary about dealing with HR and always have this in mind: they are the company bodyguards. There are countries where this is more evident such as in Mexico where they are right out hostile toward employees, sadly many of them cannot get a hint.
yeah hr only cares about the company. and then there are these "employee owned companies" bs. its a cover to make employees feel like they are owners as well. but in reality the only owners are the ceo and his group of favorite among upper management. these are people who are barely at the office and are always invited to company events, seminars, trips, etc.
the rest are disposable as in any other company.
I dunno man, I have always had good experiences with HR.
"HR are the company body guards" - That is a perfect summation of the HR function. HR is not there to protect the stage hands, roadies, vendors, contractors, and/or backup vocals. They are there for the rock stars and main band. They don't give a shit about the rest. If they need to chuck a loyal groupie off the tour bus in the middle of the night because the led singer got high and raped them they sure in hell are going to do it and tell her it was her fault right before they throw her off the bus going 65mph. If she got hit it was her fault - not the bands or the lead signer's!
Hr does indeed only care about the company. The challenge is thst, at least from a corporate office's perspective, we aren't on site. Generally, employee complaints are taken with a grain of salt because there is a process for recruiting and training site supers. The higher ups in HR (and the rest of the company) aren't going to admit that their process isn't working without a LOT of evidence. Sometimes, it takes months and months of investigating to produce enough evidence. Other times, there isn't evidence of anything but a personality conflict.
My company treated me horribly when I brought them several doctors notes on my disability and asked for reasonable accommodations. They asked to speak directly to my doctor and for a full medical release for them to view my health records; I agreed but felt violated. All I asked was to work remotely which doesnât hinder my job in the least. Needless to say, Iâm looking for other jobs.
They're probably asking for all of this sensitive, personal information to look for a way to let you go. This isn't right if your employer is essentially requiring you to disclose your protected health information (PHI) to them in order to keep your job with or without reasonable accommodations. If you're in the US, please consider revoking that medical release in writing so that your employer is not legally allowed to have access anymore to your PHI. Even if you're not working for them anymore. I hope things work out for you.
BTW, always CYA. Keep emails texts and letters...
It's so important that people understand this reality.
My current job taught me this in a very simple way.
The HR lady is my bosses wife. All the implications of that are the same implications of pretty much any HR department.
So, they are gauging your complaints and even if valid, if it's easier to fire you than solve the issues you bring forth, you're screwed twice. Got it.
this is why i don't voice my complaints at a company. i make do and do what's best for me. my boss told me in the first review that my promotion was "gonna be a challenge" because i refused to work long hours. but i lasted 3 years and never stayed a day late. should have moved on earlier for that pay bump and promotion.
I've read that an encounter with HR is like a street fight: they outnumber you, they've know all the dirty tricks, and they won't hesitate to kick you when you're down. Expect a stay in hospital when it's over.
This video has not persuaded me that this is an incorrect description.
This is exactly the truth of HR⊠they are internal propaganda for the Company⊠they are not your friend⊠if itâs easier to get rid of you than actually solve a bad culture, they will do it and then laugh about it in meetingsâŠ
This feels like it should be illegal- like a company finding a way around laws since HR isnât the employer
I've never seen a HR person know how to handle employee conflict ever. Its pretty hilarious the suggestions they come up with
I was working at Company when they merged and then purged about 200 people who where redundant due to the merger. One of. The VPs mistakenly sent me the excell spread sheet of everyone's salaries and severance check amounts. This was about four weeks before the announcement. Of course he panicked when I knocked on his office to let him know what he sent me. As I know business is business I kept my mouth shut and moved on. I knew not to run to HR as the good of the Company out ways the good of the few. Hey he did me a favor, I got a four week jump on my job search and some really good salary intel.
Wowwww!!
The good of you outweighs the good of the company.
Good for you! Something similar like tht happened to me but it was folks hiring information
Amen! Thanks for the video.... So many people, including me at one point, think HR is there for them. They are there for the company and they have the company's best interest at hand.
True. I decided, that my employment is my business decision and puff ... no stress on HR/career related stuff. If my and company strategies are not meeting, I will seek new challenges outside of the company. Naturally I seek new challenges first internally, but if there is no then not.
HR is not your enemy, but they are definitely not your friend. The "free agent" advice is spot on.
They are not a Police Department.
This guy is great, speaking a truth that might feel uncomfortable, but invaluable, especially in the US job market !
I donât get mad at videos like this, hell, I use it as a way to twist things in my favor. Seeing behind the curtain has allowed me to be just as cut throat as the employers.
Exactly!!
In my job, and specifically in my position, I work very closely with HR on all manner of things that relate to employees... That being said, I still don't trust them. I have seen HR in many organizations target employees they feel "rock the boat". Personally, I don't care if an employee rocks the boat as long as they show up, do their job, and seek to make the working environment a better place.
Kinda hard not to see HR as whole as anything BUT the enemy given how many times companies have actively weaponized it against employees.
Thanks for sharing. I am glad I'm not working in a company anymore. No more dealing with HR and no more corporate.
I don't know what it's like in other parts of the country, but in my little hick city I've noticed that HR seems to attract a very odd sort of person.
You mean people that likes and can do dirty work?
I recently resigned from a job I had only been in for 4 months. I politely declined an exit interview and didn't give a reason for leaving when asked.
In my opinion there is no point of engaging with HR as they will just press you for details and that is not a dialogue you want to engage in. If you are unhappy for whatever reason, just leave.
I just left a job and they sent me a zoom invite to go over the âdetailsâ about last pay check, insurance options etc. In the middle she started asking me exit questions about my boss and coworkers. I politely declined to answer.
I feel like that's the opportunity to let them know where they can make improvements (if they choose to). I'm telling all! đđ. Joking aside, I understand why folks choose to forgo the exit interview. Sometimes it's best to just give them the middle finger.
Sounds like you worked for a failed organization.
@@Boss3n many of us do
I kind of agree. Unless someone there or some department as a whole was doing something outright illegal or sexually harassing folks it's best to leave it all alone. Because much of American corporate isn't unionized, you sign much of your rights away in the application process before you were offered to mop the floors.
Beyond simple requests I don't think I've ever had a helpful or supportive interaction with HR.
That sucks! Iâm so sorry to hear that
@Matthew Cox not all! In 10 years, no employee will ever tell you that about me. Iâve lost jobs & promotions bc I refuse to do that
I spent 25 years at a high level in HR. The job is loney. No one likes, trusts and often values the work. Everyone has an opinion on every move you make. If you are good at it, the best reaction you can hope for is neutral. If they love you, you're not doing your job. If they hate you, you're not doing your job. If you are truly a people person and need to be loved, chose another field.
Great video! Thanks a lot for your honesty!
In return, companies should not expect loyalties from employees.
This includes not expecting heroics, like 90 hr weeks for even most management positions.
They expect and feed off of the myth of "HR" taking care of employees and their altruism. Blue-pilling.
And contrary to popular belief, many executives don't work extreme hours.
Employers have a special kind of moral myopia. In their eyes, it is strictly business and nothing personal when they act out against their employees, and the employee should totally understand that. That employees are numbers or cogs and shouldn't complain; they should just be happy to have a job.
Should the employee flip the script? Oh watch out, that is unforgivable.
It never ceases to amaze me how corporate language is full of these euphemisms to characterize clearly negative events. âAdverse employment decisionâ is a new one. Iâve heard other ones for layoffs, such as âreallocationâ, âadjusting the footprintâ, ârescalingâ, âadjusting to scaleâ, âreforecasting headcount needâ. Lovely language, that doesnât quite convey the level of âauthenticityâ leaders need to have and seem awfully sterile and insipid for the âpassionâ we all bring to our jobs. I think there tends to be a âcredibility gapâ.
Had a supervisor who was a bully, liked to creep on women and degrade them, made up policy on the fly unless you called him on it, and had really unreasonable expectations. Wrote a long formal complaint against him, he was investigated, moved to another site and promoted... I have zero trust or sympathy for HR.
I'm collecting Social Security. I don't miss work. You give a good discussion of HR, however. HR has set boundaries to bad management behavior, but didn't control my final destiny in an organization.
I have learned so much from you. The good and the bad, and questions to ask in a job interview. You have also given me confirmation on some situations where as I was confused about toxic work environment. All in all, I've learned a lot. Keep teaching me. I'm listening
I was repeatedly denied for a promotion for nearly two years, despite knowing every single machine and tool we had, training successful a half dozen new employees, having fast setup times and low scrap rate and overall seeking out the opportunity to learn everywhere I could.
I was eventually told that they need to consider as much whom they are losing as much as whom they are gaining. E.G. - Promoting me out of my position means I am no longer in my position.
I left after this.
Good for you! Because the company is looking after their best interests, not your best interests.
Thanks for the reply. I was on my phone while I typed this, so I could not expand into as much detail as I'd normally have liked to.
During my stay at the company I saw five promotions in four years. Now, I may be fudging the numbers ever-so-slightly here, but I consider being hired on from a temp agency into a full-time employee as a promotion as it came with a pay raise. Also, I was hired on before my 90 days. In these four years I was promoted from a temp worker to a Packer, then into a Utility Packer which means I am still a Packer but I am allowed to assist on setups and taredowns of machinery and tooling. Then I was promoted into a Level 1, 2 and 3 operator. Of the 22 machines we had at our disposal, I knew how to operate 18 of them and run around 90% of the tooling. The last four machines and their tooling were designated for Senior Operators only. Between my 4th and 5th year I had applied for the Senior Operator position about three times. During this time I was tasked with training new staff, developing safety protocols, learning basic and routine maintenance of the machines I was running and assisting in light tooling repairs such as working out flattened aluminum surfaces, knicks and scuffs. Eventually, after being denied over and over again, I asked my supervisor (admittedly in an impassioned rant), why I kept being denied promotions. What really made me snap was the fact that they promoted an employee with only two years experience and two levels beneath me (Level 1 operator), WHOM I TRAINED, BY THE WAY, who also was the single laziest operator on the entire shift, into the Senior Operator role. They skipped him up by three whole tiers. I lost it, walked out that day and went home to regather my bearings. Obviously I was written up for walking off the job the following day. That's when I demanded to know why I am constantly passed up for that role, and my supervisor told me that when they consider promotions they need to consider who they are losing on the floor as well as who they are gaining. Given just how low my scrap rate is, how quick my setup times are, how effective I am in training others and how I am able to spend my time repairing machinery and tooling, it made no sense to draw me away from all of that and have me focus on a different area of the plant. Therefore, it was not economically sound to promote me, as I was far too valuable where I was at.
I found another job and put in my two weeks notice.
Since then, I have realized that no company ever truly cares about you. It is your job to give yourself a raise and / or a promotion. You owe your company NOTHING. If you are expendable to them, than they are expendable to you. During the next several years I have been moving from company to company, giving myself new opportunities and raises and promotions along the way.
When I left the job I was speaking of, I was making $15.50 an hour. I am now on track to make approximately $78,000 this year as a supervisor.
Give yourself the raise.
Give yourself the promotion.
Give yourself the opportunity.
It's your life. You owe them nothing.
@@unknownyoutuber2007 I read your entire comment, and I know what that's like. In my very first job out of college the VP told me this in private after I told them I was leaving for another company after just about 2 years in a bottom rung role despite having the education and experience to move up easily. He actually took me out to lunch and completely agreed with my decision to leave. He was such a good and honest man. He told me that sometimes you have to move out to move up.
@@unknownyoutuber2007 This reminds me of a similar problem I've heard about, where a great sales person gets promoted to manager, but then they suck at the new job because they don't have managerial skills, and they also don't get to spend as much time doing the one thing that they're actually good at.
I've also heard of programmers getting paid more than their supervisors, because they were great at their jobs and they knew enough to negotiate for high salaries without ever getting promoted to a different job.
Which reminds me of a phrase. "Never be irreplaceable." If you can't be replaced, you won't be promoted.
The ones who really get themselves in trouble with HR are those who think HR is like the teacher in school assigned to hall monitor duty. You don't go to HR to complain that your boss is being a jerk. 1. Being a jerk is not something that can get the company sued so they don't really care. 2. Your boss is probably more important to the bottom line than you are so if they have to choose who to keep, it will probably be the boss. Fairness was not part of the decision. If you're not ready to walk out the door over it, don't take the issue to HR.
Another name for HR should be Risk Management. They are simply protecting the company. Only engage them with surface-level issues such as benefits, etc.
If you think you need to go to HR... Skip it and start looking for a new job.
Excellent discussion (and reminders!).
Thank you for this honest video! so full of great advice and emotional intelligence
HR's true function is to do Senior Management's bidding and making sure that CYA is upheld for all top employees with clout. Underlings who are easily replaced get the shaft.
I'm inclined to believe that if your manager or HR gives you that line "We're moving in a new direction, and believe someone else will be a better fit", what they're really saying is "We've decided to let you go, but we don't have a concrete reason, so we're making up some vague rhetoric that really doesn't say anything, on the fly" or "We're too chickensh*t to tell you why we're really letting you go, so we're handing you a line that says nothing". They hope you'll buy the bullsh*t and won't try to challenge them. Also, when the bank I used to work for was undergoing a rash of layoffs, any women who became pregnant seemed to find themselves with a pink slip pretty quickly, even though the labor laws clearly state it's illegal to discriminate based on familial status. Evidently, HR isn't always on the ball in mitigating liability risk. But then most of us can't afford legal help, which isn't cheap.
Most labor lawyers will work on contingent fee and give free consultations, so you donât have to come up with a retainer or hourly fees. Anyone fired when pregnant in a company where all women who becomes pregnant seems to end up with a pink slip should definitely talk to an attorney and not assume it will cost too much just because lawyers who charge by the hour are expensive.
They don't want conflict, they just want you gone.
You deserve way more subs man. Hope your channel continues to grow like crazy!
Appreciate it!
I completely agree. There are a lot of people doing videos about work related advice. But your advice is among the best: always factual, rational, and mature.
"To hire, develop, and retain talent." Yeah, I'm familiar with that line of rhetoric, that often isn't reality.
Great video. There are organizations created by employees to help represent and serve employees. They're called labor unions and I'd suggest joining one if you can.
they have their limits and ultimately serve the employer.
I wanted to pursue being in HR but it really is a sad job. Being paid to agree with the bullies. I'm hoping that by getting a engineer degree I don't have to deal with the rough life of working below.
I know several people who work in HR, and I do engineering. Trust me, if you have the technical chops (and interest) for engineering, that's a far less stressful job.
@@travis1240 omg thanks for telling me that now I'm overly extremely excited
depends on the company. but in large companies where you are hr in a distant remote office, hr is a chill job. because all your job is to welcome new hires, write letter of recommendation, etc.
A childhood friend if mine got her Masters in HR. She was bullied as a kid and teased relentlessly.
At first I was shocked she went into HR, but after speaking to her I now get it.
She has not let that s^^t go. Her position is right where she wants to be now. She loves being in the know with upper management, making decisions about who is hired etc. etc. She loves the power she has in HR, the power she didn't have growing up.
@@missireason8998 That's sad and stories like her unfortunately are more common than we think. Who knows if one day she will realize if deep down is she really happy and if so that's just her own.
Quite a sobering perspective. Thanks for sharing!
I definitely appreciate your work Brian. I love this channel. Many people, myself included, have been let down by an employer and the HR, but we as a whole shouldnât project that on you. This channel for me has been an eye opener for me to examine myself and to think about things with being biased based on experience. I encourage you to continue in providing all of us quality content that is helping us on many levels.
Thank you for creating this channel.
I want to give you a great thank you for your effort and time to explain this to people.
I was dealing with an HR in a smaller company who wanted to make pseudo-friends in order to fish for info. Just to find out she stabbed us in the back anyway. The back stabbing was also to give this person a role to play when the company was laying people off (her position was new). Hard lessons to learn, but valuable nonetheless. I can honestly say I have never thought of HR as my friend, but after that even less so.
Thanks also for explaining that HR is for risk assessment for the COMPANY. I never thought of it in that way before.
Blessings from South Africa.
I get a lot of value from your channel and I only found you today! Been binge watching
Thank you for your videos kind sir. Keep spilling the tea people need to hear!
Excellent video! I felt like you were speaking to me and my past situations. Great information I can use moving forward. Thanks!
If you have legal issue, you should speak to an attorney before calling HR.
This is so good, thank you.
HR is a very literal term. Human "Resources." That is what you are as an employee, a resource to make money for those above you. If you have a problem, they generally consider it as because you are "defective." If it is not cost-effective to "fix" you, then you are to be discarded and replaced in whatever manner is least likely to get the company sued (even if you are being fired for an illegal reason).
Unless of course if you are senior enough - in which case I've heard stories of senior workers who literally refused to do their job and just browsed real estate online all day, but everyone in the company ignored it because they were "just a few years from retirement." Meanwhile, I've seen a low-level employee get threatened with termination because their car broke down in a blizzard, and the manager told them over the phone (right in front of me) to abandon their car in the road and walk the rest of the way to work through the blizzard if they wanted to keep their job.
Learn to differentiate HR from direct managers. Can you not see the liability in what that manager suggested? And if the manager was in HR, then that person alone is not a good or smart HR person.
I don't even know where the myth came from that HR is on the employee's side. Why do people think that? HR does help an employee with benefits and will help resolve problems...but it doesn't mean the resolution will be what the employee wants. They manage human resources...that's you...a resource that happens to be human.
Theyâre usually the first face you see when getting in contact with a potential employer. Itâs all smiles and positivity to lull you into a relationship where youâre at a disadvantage.
@@noble7461 I hope you know no one in HR is looking for people for the purpose of disadvantaging them.
Thank You! This was really good content. Once in a while it is a good idea to be reminded of the cold hard truth, just to protect ourselves a bit. Take off the "rose colored glasses" so to speak. I like the concept of being a free agent. That is GREAT! Thanks for your time.
They should just call themselves corporate resources, because they only help the corporation.
HR is not your friend. In the end they will protect the companyâs interests.
Now, this is actually really good advise! I totally get why people don't seem to like the HR department. But for you, personally, they sometimes mistake you for where you're coming from than what you're actually doing. Your channel is a great help to find one's place amidst the "cold" business calculations every company needs to do. Keep up the good work! :)
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This is the perfect reason why you need a good union. No company will look out for you, and by extension their HR department won't look out for you.
The problem with unions is when they require you to be part of it and "pay your dues". That's crap, and I'll have no part of it. They shouldn't need "dues" if they are looking out for me.
@@7F0X7 No man, that's how any decent group works. The dues you pay sure to help the members of the union. Get hurt at work? Your dues help with a union lawyer. Need to renegotiate the terms of your contract. Union dues help pay to negotiate a better deal for you. For most skilled perfessions the difference between being union and non union is about $20/hr. The cost of about 1k a year in due. Which if I would make an additional 40k a year for that I would gladly pay that.
@@ianemory5800 I would not, and it should be my choice. Workers Comp covers the workplace injury and the employer covers it 100%. I don't need an overpriced communist union to represent me, but if you want to be part of it that should be your choice. How dare you tell me I should have to pay *YOU* to work for a living? That's fascism and far worse than any conditions the employers could have implemented to cause a union to form in the first place.
@@7F0X7 I wish I lived in your weird fantasy world where companies were forthright and just paid for injuries on the job and didn't try to avoid their obligations at all cost, but alas I don't live in such a pretend land. I wish I just lived in a world where injury lawyers weren't needed; sadly I don't.
You would do well to look up the definitions of communism and fascism before callously throwing them around. It makes you look silly. Unions are neither as they both aim to make your life better in a capitalist, republic, society. Make no mistake whether you are a union member or not they greater societal structure is the same.
@@ianemory5800 You mean the weird fantasy world of my several years of workers comp underwriting experience reading about claims day in and day out? You're the one who objectively has no idea what you're talking about.
And yes, a union that both forces you to join and pay dues is the very definition of fascism. You are highly condescending and you need to grow up.
Wow, this is so insightful! Thank you!
In a situation when I was being gaslighted by my boss who was as naccissistic psychopath (diagnosed by a qualified counsellor), HR would not do anything. They were not qualified or interested to handle this type of situation. This was in an organisation who sold research to HR Departments in most major organisations. So when I sued them, they settled out of court so that they were not publicaly embarrassed by their actions to the deficit of the company. The internal processes was meant to beat me down as an employee, but I had a very good lawyer and had lawyered up 18 months before because my narcissistic boss signaled what he was up to. Employees also need to make business decisions, rather than trust.
Do you still think itâs better to settle out of court or take them to court ? I have also have a narscisstic boss.