No Importance To Hr Dept From Our New Boss - DOC Download

Dear seniors,

Good Evening...

I started my career in 2004 as Executive HR and now as Assistant Manager HR in a German Mechanical Company, Am responsible for complete Human resource activities.

Our ex boss gave me all the importance, support, authority, training, knowledge & mainly respect for the position HUMAN RESOURCE. He was a good administrator.

Last mid year he was transferred back to Germany & then there was a new Boss, again a German (MANAGEMENT CHANGE). He is totally a technical person & he doesn’t have good administration or HR skills.

He finds HR dept not so important & uses me only for preparing letters, memos, printing of resumes etc etc which any front office assistant can do….

I tried to tell him the importance of HR but he just snubs me saying to stay cool.

Recently he is built a fear management in employees. People get fired if they go against or don’t accept their order. I would not even know that interviews are going on in our organization, they call me only to prepare the appointment letter.

During our ex boss the HR dept was very strong hence the management people were on control but now even they are not. They recruit on there own, fire on their own, there is no control over salary etc etcc..

Am totally confused, broken, demotivated………. Am so disturbed that I don’t get any new ideas…..

Please help me, what should I do?? Is there anything which is an eye opening for these people about Human Resource department than my usual work.

Thanks in advance

Vidya .V

I was amazed when reading this post. It defines my role exactly. As a senior HR Industrialist in Australia, I have been used to full support. I recently took up a position in the Aviation Industry. What I thought would be a great opportunity has turned out to be the opposite. The HR function has turned into a policy and letter writing position, all after the fact.

My recommendation is that unless management changes, you will continue to face opposition against HR. Like me, I am sure you will continue to put in 150% while looking for another employer who will recognize the value you can contribute.

HR - Australia

Dear Seniors,

When we are in trouble, the only people we think of are you guys. How could you make us wait so long for your help and guidance? There is no help from your end nor from our company. Very sad.

Regards,
Vidya

Hi,

It is a very sad situation. It is surprising to see that a German firm does not have an HR department. Be cool. A day will come when he will realize the importance of HR. Till then, keep bringing to his notice the importance of HR in day-to-day affairs. Good luck.

Regards,
Vijay

Vidya,

This is a situation that is out of your control. You are in execution mode, while people in decision-making roles should think about the importance of HR. I am also in the same situation, feeling depressed at times. These numb-headed individuals neither understand the tasks of HR nor what they should do. It's disgusting. On the other hand, I keep myself motivated by sharing my ideas with my peers, right here on CiteHR, and also by providing soft skills training to school children, college students, and other forums.

Vidya, don't panic. We are HR professionals. We have to manage people, handle situations, wait for a new boss, or wait for a good opportunity. Love your profession, not just your organization.

Thank you, guys. I'm feeling a little light now that at least you people are able to understand my situation. I cannot share this with my family, friends, and colleagues because I am in a very strong position, and suddenly being dumped like this, I am not able to take it.

Thanks again.

Vidhya,

As HR professionals, we have to confront things, take them in, feel them, act realistically, and that will lead you to success. Life is full of meaningful experiences.

Hi Vidya,

I completely agree with you because I have experienced the same situation when I was in the midst of my HR career. In my last job, I also worked with one of the most reputed MNCs in logistics, and at that time, I was going through a similar phase in my tenure. Just to add on to what CHUM has advised, kindly be cool, patient, and always focused on your profile despite any disappointments. You will have to give more than 100% in your work without looking for any appreciation. Management will soon realize the importance of HR. Don't get depressed; consider this period as a good learning experience. Wait for a change. In your next task over a period of time, you will have an additional experience in your kitty.

Take care.

Niel. :-P

Hi Vidhya,

Your boss is not the person who will have the ultimate power in decision-making. As an HR professional, I believe you must have some authority to take this forward to Senior Management (the director? Chairman?)—while it might sound really infeasible, well, it is feasible. This is the last option. You are not going to do anything against the laws of the company; you are just going to ask them to act within the set laws of the company.

More than anyone, the Chairman/Managing Director will be interested in retaining top talent. The person who is new to the company "cannot" decide things the way it was done in the previous geographical area!! Your boss needs training on Change Management!!

As an HR professional, I understand that you are not just worried about the fact that HR is not being respected, but it is the whole working culture that has changed—people look up to you and think that you can do something. When they trust you, why fear this German who has no clue about what it means to manage people.

Ask him if he wants machines to work or if he also wants good people to control those machines. If his motto is to create a completely automated system (no humans - only robots), then please let him take the lead. Otherwise, act!

What you need now is confidence in yourself!! You have proved that you CAN do it many times. This is not the place where you need anyone else to tell you that you are good and then do what you can. You have already received these praises, right? You have already been acknowledged. So, take the lead now. If he asks you to take a printout, please tell him that in this company, our office assistant will not be doing anything if you do everything! You don't want to burden your boss by letting him know the actual effort required in retaining people (he can't!).

Tell him that he may have managed people with the same attitude and autocratic nature, but that will not work here. If he is answerable for production, then he is also answerable for why no production is taking place (this will happen if people start leaving).

The company has set rules and procedures on recruitment, and HR MUST BE PRESENT during the interview. Let it be a strict rule from Senior Management, and NO APPOINTMENT LETTER WILL BE ISSUED IF THE RECRUITMENT PRACTICES ARE NOT WITHIN THE LAWS OF COMPANY PRACTICES. It need not look like YOU want it that way, but the COMPANY wants it that way.

Vidhya is a person who does not want anyone to do things on their own when there are already rules set.

I don't know if I answered you, but I just want to tell you that people trust your capabilities to do something—don't let that just be a dream. You know what to do, right? Yes, but do it in a way that does not create problems for you to continue.

[-- hey, discuss with your ex-boss too - he will know better to guide you on this --]

Take care! :)

Hello Vidya,

I understand your situation very well, but please keep in mind that "patience is the biggest virtue." Don't get demotivated and continue to put in your best efforts in every task that you undertake. Take this as a learning experience and keep working hard. All the best!

Astha 🌟

Dear Vidya,

Many times an HR has to face such circumstances. Not only in this organization, but also during your employment tenure, you may have to face similar blurred situations in the future. I have faced the same situations in the initial years of my career and sometimes still face them because some bosses are not in favor of the HR department, as they think the HR department is a non-revenue generating department compared to others. However, don't feel sad or regret being in HR. Take an interest in your boss's opinion and try to find out the reason behind it. Show the importance of your work, take initiative slowly, stay calm, and be patient. Wait for such a chance where nobody can help except the HR. Don't lose hope, learn, and try to handle a difficult boss instead of searching for a new job, as it is tough to find a job during a recession. I believe that you will learn something from this experience. Try to align your objectives with your company's objectives or for the benefit of the company. Think from your boss's point of view before considering anything negative. Always remember that we work for our own experience and benefit. Try to explore new ideas for yourself, whether your boss appreciates them or not. Keep going and stay positive in every situation. Take life as it comes.

Regards,
Noor

Hi Vidhya,

I appreciate your situation, but I guess that you see that we all face these types of situations too. The secret is to believe in your own abilities and self-worth. Ultimately, your self-belief and your self-confidence will be your strongest ally. Tough times don't last... tough people do.

Take care & Chin Up... :icon1:

Clyde

Dear Vidhya,

I hope that the views from many seniors might have eased you up to a great extent. Though I am not a senior member, I still want to share some of my views with you.

"HR, in the organization, is the most important pillar function. But still, many senior professionals don't understand its importance. They need to know that HR function in a company works like a mother's role in the family - always trying to take care of its people, trying to line up and maintain things in the proper direction, motivating people, managing them, supporting, counseling, etc., but still asking for no reward in the end. They need to understand what the organization's future would be without HR in a lead role.

I would like to suggest that please don't get depressed or demotivated. Just love your profession and have confidence in it. Try to make your boss understand this. With your consistent and confident efforts, soon his thinking will become HR-oriented.

Regards,
PMA.

Hi,

I am Nithya, Assistant Manager, HR.

I personally feel that your new boss may have experienced some negative incidents with the HR department, leading to a great loss. That is why he has stopped giving importance to the HR department.

I would say that nowadays HR professionals are lacking in coordination skills. Consequently, the management has started to work on its own because many tasks are getting delayed due to HR. This is a concerning sign. If this trend continues, there may be no HR department at all in the forthcoming years.

Therefore, we must begin improving the team we are handling and make them understand the importance of efficient coordination. I am just stating this in general terms.

Regarding this situation, it is entirely out of your control. HR acts as a bridge between management and employees, and it is up to the management to utilize HR effectively. Hence, you will have to wait and see or consider moving to a place where the HR department is given importance. :)

I hope you are feeling better.

"Thank you, guys, for making me feel a bit lighter. It's comforting to know that you understand my situation. I am unable to share this with my family, friends, and colleagues because of being in a very strong position and suddenly facing this setback, I am finding it difficult to cope. Thanks again."

Hi Vidya,

It's disturbing to know the situation you are in now. But what's more disturbing is the way 'HR' people here are advising you to accept it as part and parcel of your career and just lie there waiting for your boss to suddenly have an enlightenment about the importance of HR and come to you on his own.

How do you think that will happen? Will a light flash across his face from the sky and some voice tell him about the importance of HR? Or will he be dragged into a room by someone to lecture him about HR?

Have you ever heard of either of these things happening with anyone? I definitely didn't.

In the absence of such divine interventions, I think you should 'do' something to make him realize your worth.

- First, stop waiting for him to acknowledge your role and involve you in everything.
- Stop feeling offended about not being informed about things at the office.
- You are experienced enough to understand and know your worth. Use that to turn your situation to favor you.
- You say he doesn't know anything about HR; take it as an opportunity to tell him about it.
- Come up with ideas and analysis of data useful to the company's growth.
- If possible, try sending this info to a person one level above your boss, just as a CC. So that your boss cannot ignore your info.
- Tell your HODs firmly that if HR is not involved in the interviews, then you will not issue the appointment letters. If they still don't involve you, then tell them that they can take the appointment letters from the clerical staff but not you. (Trust me, this works. I did it in my last orgn.)
- Conduct skip-level meetings with the staff. Stay in touch with employees. They are your primary concern, not your boss.

Mainly, take initiative, be proactive, and never get demotivated.

Your boss, who doesn't know anything about people or HR, is not the one who decides what your role in the organization is or decides what you are capable of doing.

Try your best, Vidhya, and once you have decided you have given it your complete effort and still the boss is the same, then approach the higher management as a final try. Even then, if things don't change, then quit immediately. Because such an organization that neglects its Human Capital is bound to be doomed sooner or later.

Just remember this—never just lie low and accept whatever treatment anyone gives you in the name of 'part and parcel of HR job' because it's not. You don't have to be aggressive about it, but don't be a doormat either.

All the best and keep us posted.

Another long, big thread with no output and result... The thread starter is already lost, and the posts make her more lost. :(

Hi Ravi,

Posts here don't make anyone feel lost. It's left to the starter to decide what plan she must adopt. Maybe the views here would help her decide what she is supposed to do next, or at least this may/might help her in her thinking process.

It's easier to criticize :-), difficult to contribute. :)

P.S.: The problem quoted here has no standard output/result. It is defined by the time she would take to stop worrying and start acting. No one may have the ANSWER directly here or just a one-way solution; it's all in what Vidya chooses to do.

Hi Vidya,

I can understand your situation. Take this as an opportunity to understand people and why they behave like that. After all, HR is not "Human Resource," it's more of "Human Relations." People will be the same everywhere. What's the guarantee that the next boss will have immense respect for HR? Not all people are the same, and neither the way we treat all of them is the same. Have patience and do your best. I am sure things will work out if YOU want to. Keep the faith. Good Luck! :icon1:

Dear Ash,

You are so right.

Unfortunately, I did try all of this and failed. That is the reason I came to you guys for help. He is in a higher position as the Managing Director from India, and above him are individuals who sit in Germany. Recently, one of our management personnel informed our parent company about the issues taking place here, and he was treated very poorly. The same day he returned from his vacation, his wife is pregnant. He was taken to the security gate and made to wait for two to three hours for full and final settlement. Can you imagine what I can do?

Regards,
Vidya

Hi Vidya,

Do not be demotivated by this. Actually, even I had gone through the same situation so I can understand what you are going through. Remember one thing, some bosses have the mentality that they do not wish to give authority to their employees. They want to be the one and only showman in the whole company. They do not accept others' ideas. It's an employer's mentality. However, I would suggest you keep cool and prove to him the importance of the HR Department.

Last but not least: "Never lose your self-respect. No position in this world is important at the cost of your self-respect."

That's pathetic and very painful. I understand that you must have been the person most hurt as you are the HR, but still could not do anything. It looks like a very autocratic leadership control from this German (Hitler was from Germany, right?).

What this would lead to is people trying to move out and looking for immediate outside openings. I am just thinking of what you can do. Can you pass him a book on corporate culture and ethics and ask him what modifications he is looking at? Let him know that this opinion is highly valued by everyone. Share the recruitment practices manual with him and ask him what changes are to be incorporated. He would not take time to do all the above, so let him do whatever he wants (I am sure he would not read much though).

Finally, get his signature as "APPROVED AND EFFECTIVE AS ON DD/MM/YY". After this, just tell him that you will take the responsibility of making sure that nothing is done outside the prescribed laws in the manual.

Hi Vidya,

Please discuss the situations happening in your organization with your ex-boss. In this case, he may guide you because he knows the mentality of management. Have patience and do your best. I am sure things will work out if you want to. Keep the faith. Good luck!

Do not get disheartned, Look into the strenght and weaknesses of your new boss and be emphatic to him. Try to gain confidence which will be built only if he sees you as an approachable person. Help him & guide him where ever he is short of thoughts. Engage with him continously and prove him that your approach is highly practicable. Believe me HR Managers are the change agents and if you cannot demonstrate this skill, believe me you will never be satisfied.
Regards
Suresh

Hi Vidhya,
You're not alone; there are so many out here who are in this situation as yours. Why most management have similar opinion about HR is, they consider HR as a cost centre and think they can do away with it. That's exactly why they should be made aware of the HR's role in an organization. By now you would have got many suggestions and advices from Citehr members on how to cope with the situation; I am attaching a file, by Leo Lingham, which might be of some use to you. At any point during your efforts to straighten up the affairs, if you get a chance to explain the importance of HR to your boss, this should come in handy. And probably it could also help pep up your motivation levels. To be an HR is not easy; so you’ve got an opportunity to stand tall. All the best!

Dear Vidya,

I think, specifically in small companies most of HR executives doing the same what you are doing.You speak to your present boss and make him understand slowly and genuinely. Off course, it will take some time. In the mean time, why don’t you speak to your Ex-Boss and explain him about present situation of your department & its role. Also ask him about your new boss, he may know about him. Take suggestion from your old boss. It may help you.

Regards

Hi Vidya,

Don't worry, one day will come when he will realize, and he has already realized that without HR, he can't manage the employees. We are the intermediary for employees as well as employers.

But one thing, you should be the best in your work, put 100% effort into your work, and make him realize that she is the perfect HR for his concern. Keep smiling; that is good medicine.

Thanks,
Riya

Dear Seekhr,

I understand that you work as an HR in Australia. One of my close pals is migrating to Australia soon. Would you be able to help me with good sources out there to find an HR job?

Thanks,

Dear HRSeek,

I understand that you are an HR professional working in Australia. One of my close friends is migrating to Australia soon. Could you please assist me in finding some good sources through which we can search for HR job opportunities there?

Thank you.

Dear,

As your old boss has changed, he will also change. Have patience. Whenever a new person joins, they try to implement their own ideas and adjust to the new environment. Just wait; after 2-3 months, he will automatically get on track and understand the importance of HR. If he does not understand, he will suffer. You must try to be safe in your position, avoid making any wrong decisions, and follow the company policy. It's a time to observe and see how he is adjusting to the new environment.

Ashwini Kumar

Hi,
I read your mail.It was very painful to know this. This is very demotivating for HR aspirants. But along with that we are learning new HR sensitive dimentions .We are sensitive when people join us but we need to be more careful when people leave us. Bcoz it affects negatively company brand... As we know “People leave managers and not companies..." but still it is directly affecting company brand..

Aparna Sethi

Hi Vidya,

I know how hard it is to work under a solely technical Head. Keep yourself quiet and observe. They don't have any clue for the first 6 months. They will be fully autocratic, and all the tech people consider HRD as a non-billing resource, and they won't listen to our words. Keep track of what is going on and build good relationships with other department managers. Engage with other department managers rather than just your head... in 3 months, he will definitely begin to align with us. Just nod along to your boss; don't feel insulted or isolated. If you manage him, then you are the strongest one in the company, and no one can match you wherever you go.

Senthil
:)

Hey, relax! Not having a boss who appreciates the HR function is not unusual, although in the past few years, top management has realized the potential of what a sound HR can deliver to boost the top and bottom lines.

I too have worked in a German multinational and have experienced something similar to what you are going through. I have worked closely with Germans, and culturally, they are not open to HR or OD initiatives. They value rules and regulations, expecting strict compliance and execution. Typically, HR departments/functions in Germany are more 'administrative,' making it challenging for Germans to see HR's broader potential.

If your current boss belongs to the old guard, you may be a bit unlucky. It is likely his first assignment in India or even Asia. Eventually, he will recognize the importance of involving HR in decision-making and giving them due credit. He will likely need HR support for administrative tasks such as statutory compliance for expatriates (e.g., registration of foreigners) and talent retention and recruitment. This realization may come after some mistakes that impact results negatively.

Therefore, patience is key as you continue to build relationships within the organization. Your boss may be on assignment for a year or two and could be viewing India as a challenging posting. Perhaps introducing him to senior German managers from other organizations with more experience in India could help. Initially, some may be 'suspicious,' but they will likely realize that HR is not as negatively portrayed. Understanding German cultural norms like punctuality and meeting deadlines can help you gain your boss's trust. Embrace this situation as a challenge, considering that changing jobs may not guarantee a boss who appreciates HR.

Take care and best of luck.

You know, Vidya, the main thing is the mindset we have. If you think a little differently, it means that Human Resources is the backbone of any organization. It's great that your previous boss understood the HR Department and was interested in the personal development of each employee, giving you the freedom to develop the organization. This way, some power and authority come to you. Everyone in the world wants this and strives for it, whether they are eligible or not. A person who is good will put in the effort and be evaluated one day; it might take some time.

As HR professionals, we must understand the things in and around us because we encounter different people constantly and need to handle them.

Don't blame anybody for it. As many of our seniors and friends have said, it could be a great learning experience for you in the future.

Listen, Divya, for a while, you have to set aside your ego and behave like a mature HR professional. I don't agree that you should inform or email the topmost management person. Someday, this boss might appreciate your efforts.

In my opinion, first, try to understand your boss or senior person, and figure out what they want. Please ignore temporarily what is happening in your organization, but analyze things on your own and keep a record.

Support all departments and seniors as they hire people for their teams. Assist in drafting letters for them, especially when giving appointment letters to new employees (please try to understand each point and their mood). Don't refuse to write letters. If you truly love your profession, be patient, stay calm, understand the situation, and show your support.

Ultimately, all decisions usually stem from the HR Department, from top management to others. Make your boss feel right and support them. Do as they ask, sometimes staying quiet and speaking up only when you slightly agree with your point being the best.

You will gain their confidence, utilize your skills, even if it's a slow process. If we can't understand or motivate our boss, we can't achieve much. Avoid being overly emotional, act professionally, and watch the movie "Corporate" multiple times.

And you will emerge as the winner.

Regards

Hi,

It is quite a common feeling when we notice a slight difference in the importance given to old and new individuals. Be calm and wait for the opportunity to showcase the significance of you and the HR department. Be prepared to face more challenges where you will undoubtedly excel.

All the very best!

This post is one year old, and I do not know whether the same situation continues. We will be too glad to get feedback from the author of this post a year back.

I have just one observation to make:

The post started by Vidya addresses the Importance of the HR Department and not about HR Process. I liked Ash's contribution wherein he has specified about approaching the boss to find out what changes he wants in the processes.

HR people should appreciate one aspect – they don't decide; they facilitate. If you are in a deciding mode about people in different departments, then you will face the problem as faced by Vidya. If you are in a facilitating mode, people will come to you. Please understand the difference. Would you like someone else making a decision on a person reporting to you? We don't. Similarly, others like to make decisions on their people. HR's success depends on how effectively we frame and design processes to bring in uniformity across the organization in handling and managing people rather than managing people itself.

Thanks,

Sivasankaran

Hi to all,

I have read all the comments and the situation regarding Vidhya's problem. However, if senior management does the same, then where should we go? With me, the situation is like this: our department does not have an HR manager. The department is being handled by the admin head, and the HR team has been distributed across different projects (working in an IT company). My IT managers say I am not an HR, I am a recruiter. Can anyone tell them that a person who has completed a full-time MBA in HR is handling grievances, helping employees in finance, but the core part is IT recruitment, and it all falls under HR... :(

My question is: how can HR come out of the hands of IT managers? I gave up because of this situation where HR has been managed by other department heads, and as a result, our two managers resigned. Now, what about the HR team?