But first...COMING SOON - Christmas pictures, Princess's birthday pictures, and New Year's Eve pictures. Note to Patsy: you were not as neat and clean while puking on NYE as you thought. Hub found chunks in various places in the bathroom. He cleaned it up, so I am not complaining.
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There are things I love about my job (working in HR). I get to help people with their issues, give them a paycheck, give jobs to qualified people, be a sounding board for suggestions, sell ideas to upper management and then implement them, etc etc etc. But there are things I really hate about working in HR.
The main one is that you can't get close to anyone. I know things about employees, like if they are going to be disciplined, what their raises will be, what their bosses say about them behind their backs, how much their bonus will be, if they are going to be fired. And its hard to look people in the eye and smile and act as if things are normal when I know something's going on. I want to tell them (especially the nice ones), but of course I can't. And the worst part is that in this company, I handle all disiplinary action. So if someone in the company is getting written up, I am the one doing it.
You may remember a few months back when I first started this job, I mentioned "the cool girl" who asked me to go out to lunch with her and her little group. Well these 3 girls are my "crew" here. But as it turns out, the "cool girl" is not liked by her direct manager nor by her VP. One of the other girls is not performing as well as they expected. One of their other friends in the company (who I am not friends with) is going to be fired any day now (I am looking for her replacement and I am going to be the one to fire her). I can't tell them any of this. So how do I go out to lunch and chat and not tell my friends these things?
Another guy, one of our Directors, is going to be written up this week. I have worked really hard to break through this guy's rough exterior and get him to trust me and know I am not your typical HR person. And now, I am going to have to write him up for his attitude. Fun.
What I have realized is that, despite the fact that I DESPISED my former company, the one good thing about it was that there were 6 of us in the department so I could be friends with my co-workers. They were going through the same thing I was. But here, its just me and my director in the department so its a very lonely place to be. I am giving myself a year here, to learn all I can and gain as much experience as I can, and then I am moving on. I have to, for my own sanity.
9 comments:
It sure it lonely at the top. I can totally relate being in the position I am at work. I know everything about everyone, and when someone is going to be fired (thank GOD I'm not doing the firing) I know about it before they do. I avoid that person like the plague! You are right, it's hard to look people in the eye when you know what's going down, and afterwards they know that you knew all along.
I hope you're getting paid boatloads if you're the one who has to do the firing. Why aren't their individual bosses doing those things?
Happy New Year.
Hello True...welcome to 2006!
Happy 2006 True!
I've been on the cusp of supervision lately and I have been clued in on who's getting fired and who's moving this way or that.
I don't like it and don't let on that I know anything.
In turn, everybody else pretends that I don't know anything either.
That's nice of them.
Well that does sound pretty sucky. I do remember when you talked about the cool girl...that was funny. Oh well, do the best you can and realize that outside of work you have a great little family and good friends so at least you will always have them for support, right!
TRUE JERSEY GIRL: I hung out with Bon Jovi last night and...okay now that I have your attention: HAPPY NEW YEAR! I think your approach on the job is a good plan. lol!
Hey, welcome back to blog-land and happy New Year. I've stayed in sales where I don't have to hire, fire, discipline or supervise anyone (and also where I can SELL my boss on the idea that I'm doing a good job!) I don't think I have what it takes to do your job.
You just said the right thing. It really is lonely at the top. You cannot be pleasing everyone, your subordinates, going out with them. In fact I don't think it is even right for a person in your position to do so. There should be a barrier between your relationship as the boss and subordinate. I really am not very keen in the secrets of success but one thing I know is that THE KEY TO FAILURE IS TO TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE.
Happy new year!
I think that if your 'crew' have got an ounce of sense (and I'm sure they have) then they will understand the sensitivities of your position. I know what you mean though - it does sound lonely.
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