Hi Friends,
How do you handle two owners who still do business as if they are stuck in the 1950s? I am the HR Manager at a not-so-small, not-so-big company that has been a family business for over 100 years. The owners have no respect for HR. They play favorites, are extremely sexist and discriminatory.
The employee handbook is the current flashpoint. The owners neither follow nor enforce the policies in it, and it needs a complete overhaul. I tell them constantly that if I am to protect them, we need a well-written and enforced handbook. They pay no attention at all. They look at me as if I am the bad guy.
I have been here only eight months. I spend lots of time putting out fires they personally start. I really feel I’m compromising my ethics by staying! What should I do? In this economy I cannot look for another job. Do I just stick it out until it starts to turn around—and then leave?
Regards,
Abraham
From Saudi Arabia
1How do you handle two owners who still do business as if they are stuck in the 1950s? I am the HR Manager at a not-so-small, not-so-big company that has been a family business for over 100 years. The owners have no respect for HR. They play favorites, are extremely sexist and discriminatory.
The employee handbook is the current flashpoint. The owners neither follow nor enforce the policies in it, and it needs a complete overhaul. I tell them constantly that if I am to protect them, we need a well-written and enforced handbook. They pay no attention at all. They look at me as if I am the bad guy.
I have been here only eight months. I spend lots of time putting out fires they personally start. I really feel I’m compromising my ethics by staying! What should I do? In this economy I cannot look for another job. Do I just stick it out until it starts to turn around—and then leave?
Regards,
Abraham
From Saudi Arabia
Dear Abraham,
I can relate to what you are saying. Like you correctly identified, in this economy, there is little that you can do about another job option
As for the owners, there is again little that you can do. You will have to keep on trying to explain your point of view, even though you may know that nothing will come out of it.
You could consider over hauling the Employee Handbook yourself (I am unclear as to your authority level) but I agree - Implementation has to come from them.
You will have to stick to your guns, and do the best that you can. If you really feel there is little that you can do to change your situation then begin looking around
All the best
From India, Gurgaon
I can relate to what you are saying. Like you correctly identified, in this economy, there is little that you can do about another job option
As for the owners, there is again little that you can do. You will have to keep on trying to explain your point of view, even though you may know that nothing will come out of it.
You could consider over hauling the Employee Handbook yourself (I am unclear as to your authority level) but I agree - Implementation has to come from them.
You will have to stick to your guns, and do the best that you can. If you really feel there is little that you can do to change your situation then begin looking around
All the best
From India, Gurgaon
Annika is right. It's not easy to change people. However, what will change them is a cost-benefit analysis of your approach and their approach. Ethical issues may not appeal to them, especially in the present economic climate; but money will surely open their eyes.
Simhan
From United Kingdom
Simhan
From United Kingdom
Abraham,
I can sympathise with you. I currently work for an organisation where the owner only wants HR as a statement and nothing else. Recently, my role was removed from the management team and i can no longer contribute to changes impacting employees. After 7 months i too have found that breaching ethics is no trouble for some managers. HR rely on their ethics or what do they have. I am currently interviewing with other organisations and in todays time, there is no guarantee. Each day i operate as a professional and unfortunately can only be reactive on employee issues rather than reactive. I have had to accept this until such time as i get an opportunity to work for an employer who values what we do. Hang in there, but its time to get out.
From Australia, South Morang
I can sympathise with you. I currently work for an organisation where the owner only wants HR as a statement and nothing else. Recently, my role was removed from the management team and i can no longer contribute to changes impacting employees. After 7 months i too have found that breaching ethics is no trouble for some managers. HR rely on their ethics or what do they have. I am currently interviewing with other organisations and in todays time, there is no guarantee. Each day i operate as a professional and unfortunately can only be reactive on employee issues rather than reactive. I have had to accept this until such time as i get an opportunity to work for an employer who values what we do. Hang in there, but its time to get out.
From Australia, South Morang
Abraham,
I sympathise with you and can identify with what you are trying to convey. It is very difficult for "owners" to accept advise from professional managers as they feel that they know the formula for success. Unfortunately, very few owners have the courage and conviction to accept the wrongs and set in motion the right procedures. As a professional, you have accepted the job with its good and bad and you should continue to fight the system and try and reason it out with the employers. Explain to them that you are working on their behalf and in their interests and you would like your knowledge to be put to their benefit. I know it is not an easy task but keep trying. The joy of changing the system is much more than the joy of changing the job. Try hard and as a last resort you always have the option of looking out for another job available to you.
All the best,
Krishnan
From India, Madras
I sympathise with you and can identify with what you are trying to convey. It is very difficult for "owners" to accept advise from professional managers as they feel that they know the formula for success. Unfortunately, very few owners have the courage and conviction to accept the wrongs and set in motion the right procedures. As a professional, you have accepted the job with its good and bad and you should continue to fight the system and try and reason it out with the employers. Explain to them that you are working on their behalf and in their interests and you would like your knowledge to be put to their benefit. I know it is not an easy task but keep trying. The joy of changing the system is much more than the joy of changing the job. Try hard and as a last resort you always have the option of looking out for another job available to you.
All the best,
Krishnan
From India, Madras
I can relate to what you are going through.
Any initiative which you would like to start, present it in monetary terms. cost vs revenue etc....
As HR we cannot generate revenue but we can surely cut down on cost. try to bring such changes to start with.
Good luck.
From India, Hyderabad
Any initiative which you would like to start, present it in monetary terms. cost vs revenue etc....
As HR we cannot generate revenue but we can surely cut down on cost. try to bring such changes to start with.
Good luck.
From India, Hyderabad
Dear Ankita, In my opinon you should try to look another job because there is very difficult to chage the employer as will only look how I can save my money. (Sahil)
From India, Delhi
From India, Delhi
Abraham,
I do understand the situation you are going thru. You have to keep onething in your mind that we people are overheads in the organisation and accordingly value given by the system & the stake holders. At such a stage where you know getting a job according to our own satisfaction is very difficult in today's market. My suggestion to you, please be there and try to increase your's & departments visibility in the organstion by doing some costless events or introducing handbook etc. by which you can buy some more time or may be situation improves.
All the best,
From India, Delhi
I do understand the situation you are going thru. You have to keep onething in your mind that we people are overheads in the organisation and accordingly value given by the system & the stake holders. At such a stage where you know getting a job according to our own satisfaction is very difficult in today's market. My suggestion to you, please be there and try to increase your's & departments visibility in the organstion by doing some costless events or introducing handbook etc. by which you can buy some more time or may be situation improves.
All the best,
From India, Delhi
HI Friend Hr,
Shoked to hear these kinds of problems. Now a days, family business and family politics are in peak. Policy means to follow; not to over rule. owners are the gardians for the employees. If they go as they like, its not a company but a club, i would say, plz seek your dignity somewhere, where you'll be identified.
From India, Madras
Shoked to hear these kinds of problems. Now a days, family business and family politics are in peak. Policy means to follow; not to over rule. owners are the gardians for the employees. If they go as they like, its not a company but a club, i would say, plz seek your dignity somewhere, where you'll be identified.
From India, Madras
Hey Abraham,
I am undergoing the same thin at my end!!!! Guess what.... thats makes us situational brothers!!!!:icon6:
I have realised that looking for options is not the right mode right now.... and moreover this scenario should be taken up as a challenge... Adapt and improvise.... you cant do anything in such situations... the other best way is to wait.... do something useful for your career and use it as a next hunting tool.... my bosses are more of a BPO guys and they want everything under control.... they are rash, they are biased and they have a differnt outlook towards work.... and they are running a decent IT S/w, IT Product, KPO, LPO, RPO, Animation and all the services under one roof.... but its guys like we...who have to push things across and make them realise....'the right way'....sometimes we will go on front foot and many a times on backfoot...but guess what... you attempted....can you imagine my bosses asking me to 'restructure' the entier setup after 15 days of joining and that too when i come from some reputed IT MNC's and i dont have any knowledge of KPO, LPO, RPO or for that matter Animation??????:-D And trust me when i say that the restructring has to happen in 3days flat... Wow thats a deadline!!!!
Man its a evil world...!
My advice for you on a serious note:
1. Stick till times are better.... You will get better opportunity when things are up... trust me...
2. Take it as a challenge.... You will find such individuals everywhere in India....work through them....
3. Adapt and improvise.... Play the way they want you too... get your pay and pay utmost attention to point / advice 1...!!!!
Regards
From United Kingdom, London
I am undergoing the same thin at my end!!!! Guess what.... thats makes us situational brothers!!!!:icon6:
I have realised that looking for options is not the right mode right now.... and moreover this scenario should be taken up as a challenge... Adapt and improvise.... you cant do anything in such situations... the other best way is to wait.... do something useful for your career and use it as a next hunting tool.... my bosses are more of a BPO guys and they want everything under control.... they are rash, they are biased and they have a differnt outlook towards work.... and they are running a decent IT S/w, IT Product, KPO, LPO, RPO, Animation and all the services under one roof.... but its guys like we...who have to push things across and make them realise....'the right way'....sometimes we will go on front foot and many a times on backfoot...but guess what... you attempted....can you imagine my bosses asking me to 'restructure' the entier setup after 15 days of joining and that too when i come from some reputed IT MNC's and i dont have any knowledge of KPO, LPO, RPO or for that matter Animation??????:-D And trust me when i say that the restructring has to happen in 3days flat... Wow thats a deadline!!!!
Man its a evil world...!
My advice for you on a serious note:
1. Stick till times are better.... You will get better opportunity when things are up... trust me...
2. Take it as a challenge.... You will find such individuals everywhere in India....work through them....
3. Adapt and improvise.... Play the way they want you too... get your pay and pay utmost attention to point / advice 1...!!!!
Regards
From United Kingdom, London
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