Are Some HR Officers Always Chatting? Does This Happen in Your Company Too?

Hi everybody,

Sorry to choose the above title, but I have observed that most of the time HR officers will be busy chatting, sending fabulous, funny emails, etc. This has been observed by me in our company. In my four years of experience in this company, I have seen almost three officers (Region 1 HR Officer) busy chatting all the time. So, this is the doubt I have in my mind - is it really true that the same things happen in all organizations? To correct my title, it is not all, but some specific people.

Thank you and bye! 😊

Hi
What you wrote is absolutely right according to me. I have seen many HR personnel in my career in small, medium and big size industries (Including overseas). But most of the time HR guys are not punctual and always walking across the organization doing nothing, but it looks like they are very busy with doing some high priority work. Most of the mails, what we receive from HR department is useless, I don't know why? It is not only the opinion of me, but most of the people having the same opinion in the organization. One more thing what I want to highlight is, most of the HR personnel behave arrogant with the candidates who came for interview.
Pl. don't consider the above message in a pessimistic manner.
Regards
Sathya

Hi,

What you think is absolutely wrong, according to me. HR people are not technical to perform as other employees. They will send funny emails only to entertain and reduce stress levels. They will roam around the office to ensure your comfort levels and observe you. As for chatting, I suppose they will be discussing employee welfare.

Regards,
Sujay Dev

Hi dear,

Sorry to comment on your topic which you have chosen here for discussion. Firstly, the organization in which you are working doesn't have proper systems. Secondly, your org doesn't have HR policies, vision, or anything that means it is lacking in any way. Thirdly, you know there are a number of tasks that HR personnel have to do. Please visit any manufacturing unit where you will find a proper answer to your query. Some of them include salary, training, welfare, appraisals, surveys, maintaining a harmonious working environment, involving in negotiations, maintaining PR with outside bodies such as courts, legal works, always looking for something creative, reducing turnovers, reducing accidents, and more.

I think it's enough. One more thing, no one works all the time; generally, only 30% of people work 100% against their salary. Thanks, please don't mind. Have a great day.

Hello,

I fully agree with Sujay's comment. HR means mingling with people. Complaining about others is very easy.

Regards,
Arun Shetty Kenjoor

I don't agree with all of this. People think that since HR professionals are not technical, they only engage in trivial activities. However, in my experience from two different jobs, I have not found this to be true. HR professionals are responsible for a significant aspect of their company, which is employer branding. They represent the softer side of the company and are not always assertive when communicating with employees. Due to this, people often perceive them as simply passing time.

If you are not part of the HR team, I encourage you to spend a month with the HR department to witness the reality firsthand.

Hi All,

The objective of the above said message is not to pinpoint a person or a department. The message is conveyed here to the people who behave in that manner.

Few of my friends here are talking about bigger organizations and manufacturing units, but I have worked in both manufacturing and IT companies where the employee strength ranges from 800 to 2000 and above.

When it comes to the working environment, the organization where I work is recognized in India and also abroad.

I have audited more than 50 organizations in my career, including HR departments in India and abroad. The majority of the organizations' HR departments behave in the way which I explained above. In fact, I have discussed this topic with a few HR directors and HR managers, and to a certain extent, they also agree.

I am not saying that all companies or HR personnel are that way; I have also come across some very good HR professionals.

If we consider this as a very interesting topic and are unsure about the above said message, we can conduct an opinion survey to know the results.

Regards,

Sathya

I am sorry to comment on your response, Satya, but from your message, I feel you might have come across a few irresponsible HR professionals who just want to pass the time or have misbehaved with co-workers. I agree with Sujay that for HR people roaming around the office and having conversations with other employees is a part of their job, which enables them to have good communication with others and to find out if they have any problems and if they can help them in any way. If they stick to their seat and do not mingle with others, just like software professionals, they cannot find out what is going on around their office and due to that, they cannot plan any improvements that can be made.

Sirisha Reddy

Dear Friends,

When the question of survey has been brought up, I would like to mention my experience in one organization. There, the HR manager used to go around, talk to everyone, pass some light comments, and tasks to create a comfortable environment. When the same manager was replaced by a HR professional who was very restricted and reserved in his behavior, employees felt disconnected from their HR.

It's not that the previous manager had no work; rather, there was high pressure due to numerous recruitments and appraisals as the unit was ramping up. The second manager stepped in during a more comfortable stage.

This scenario is self-explanatory, I believe. HR professionals need to have a knack for bringing fun and joy into the workplace. It's important to understand that work is crucial, and no one overlooks it. We should all realize that if HR was not functioning effectively, how could the company manage to achieve results that required HR actions? Everyone receives a salary, appraisals, jobs, and benefits. Friends, is HR a thankless job? Your comments, please.

Hi,

I strongly object to the question raised by Shavalad. How can Shavalad make such a generalized statement ("Why are all HR professionals busy chatting (Is it True?)")? It is not acceptable.

Also, I strongly object to the statements made by Sathya...

I request all the members not to make any generalized objectionable statements in the forum.

Thank you all in advance.

Shashank

Hmm...

Controversial topic. But my question is, is it only HR personnel who chat and roam? Do others never do it? In my opinion, as long as there is no harm caused to your co-workers and organizational growth, there is nothing to comment on this topic. What matters is the positive result you provide to your organization at the end of the day.

As Suvarna and Shirisha rightly pointed out, HRs should not stick to their chairs; instead, they need frequent interaction with employees to establish a good work environment.

Regards, Swapna

Hi All,

I think this is just a discussion and a query (doubt) that our friend Shavalad has raised. His subject was a little personal, but he said sorry for that in his message.

Shavalad, I would like to shed some light on your queries:

1) HR professionals never waste time; they create these situations because they aim to maintain a comfortable environment within the organization.

2) Their movements around the office indicate that they are conducting research that may not seem important to you as an individual.

3) They form the foundation of any organization. How can we assume that they are idling and not working?

4) They are responsible for tasks such as manpower planning, salaries, appraisals, recruitment, grievance handling, ensuring a hygienic and lively office atmosphere, among many other important duties in our organizations.

In fact, they are always under pressure and stress but possess the quality of not showing it.

Therefore, if you observe any HR individual engaging in such activities next time, consider it as part of their work, and they are definitely conducting research and development that will benefit our organization.

Thanks and Regards,

Sapana Kale 😊

Hi All,

I completely agree with shavalad. But if you look at the other note of the topic, I think that it's most important for HR people to be busy in chatting as it helps them to interact with people. We all have a clear understanding that chatting is considered useless, but on the converse side, it helps in growing relationships between two individuals on professional grounds as well.

For example, I would definitely like to share an experience of mine. I had been with a company in the U.S for their hiring campaign. It was really tough to choose a suitable person for the job we were offering since it required technical knowledge as well as communication fluency. Every resume contained those parameters. However, in practical terms, we were not in a position to hire someone unsuitable as it would have cost us our major clients. Then, I met a person in a chat room. We had a long discussion in the chat room, and eventually, she got selected. For the past two years, she has been an asset for us.

So, in my personal opinion, I strongly recommend HR people to chat or send emails. However, alongside that, they must have a focus on the job they are doing. Have fun at the workplace, and enjoy your job. This is the motto which I believe in.

Thanks,

Shambhu

Hi All!

I agree with Sujay that for HR professionals, roaming around the office and having conversations with other employees is a crucial part of their job. It enables them to establish good communication with others, identify any problems employees may have, and offer assistance where needed. If HR professionals remain confined to their seats and do not interact with others, similar to software professionals, they will be unaware of the happenings within the office, making it challenging to plan for any necessary improvements.

In fact, most HR policies emphasize the importance of involving employees in the policy-making process.

Regards,
Jennifer

Hi everybody,
This is my second comment on the same topic. In my previous email I made strong objections to the statements made by few members. I am not here to change my words…I stick to those words. :!:
I could not accept that, we, the HR professionals, need to give justification of our day to day activities to the fellow HR person… :cry: this is really shameful. We are fighting for a place in the Board-Room and here are few ppl who think…Why All HR Personals are busy in chatting??? :?:
Also, there is no point in committing a mistake and then saying sorry as the damage is already done by that mistake.
Also, I could not get these statements...I think these are self - contradictory statements
Shashank

Hi Shashank,

I didn't want to sound contradictory, but to be very honest, if you tell someone that you are in HR and your work includes chatting :D, they would definitely be surprised.

So, I wanted to showcase the use of chatting in order to achieve the targets.

Thanks,
Sham

Hi All,

I would like to add some points to this. I am in the service industry and have some points to discuss with you.

1. If an HR professional is always sitting in their seat and not mingling with employees, they are not valuable to the company.

2. HR is often seen as a thankless job; whatever they do, it's not for themselves but for others.

3. If HR is not functioning effectively, how will your organization maintain stability with the right manpower? HR is directly involved in recruitment, training, compensation, career progression, and even the final settlement process.

4. While you are performing your job, HR professionals are working for others.

5. It is indeed a thankless job, yet respect and dignity are paramount.

6. When there is no salary increment, HR may be blamed, but when there is a good increment, praise is given to the boss. However, it's essential to note that promotions and increments are often based on HR feedback and recommendations.

With warm regards to all HR colleagues,
Kannan

Hi Guys,

I really would like to know which company this is?

I hope the majority of forum members are HR personnel. As an HR employee, I do send emails, but that actually is a stress buster.

I make sure to send some informative messages.

Chatting may not be the correct word to use; I may say that as people/relationship management. I chat a lot; I go to my colleagues in various departments and chat. But I know how many frauds and problems I have discovered and resolved just by chatting with them.

I chat to understand the business, and yes, we do speak on the lighter side.

I have made lifetime friends from various functions but not from HR.

We may be assertive and say NO sometimes. Before coming to a conclusion on HR, please check what kind of request you put in front of them and received a NO.

I have to stick to my HR policy and will have to say no. Your HR would be assertive but not arrogant.

Please do not have such an impression as my friend mentioned. Just go and spend a week's time with HR; you will come to know the facts.

Regards,

Sara Kathi

Hi,

I agree with Shashank. Generalized comments on HR folks always chatting are erroneous. We need to be more professional in bringing up the agenda for debate/discussions.

Regards,
Ravi B. S.

Hi,

What hit me instantly is, why blame the employees when the firm gave a free hand? Why are IMs and Chat sites permitted in the first place? You can't take a kid to the candy store and say "look but don't touch." It's as ridiculous as that.

You seem incredibly virtuous to have stayed off, that failed but apparently have enough time to eagle-eye other folks at work. HR has a complicated function, and what you may not have a complete view of is best less commented about. It's like the layman saying astronomy is BS - it can't predict horoscopes and futures. HR and its functions are as alien to you as Astronomy is to astrology.

Sorry for cutting the corners. Education ain't always plain vanilla.

Seema Raghunath

Dear Sathya,

Already a few have given a suitable quote in response to your earlier posting; however, I would like to add a few words.

Please don't make decisions about others without first getting to know them. I believe you cannot reach a conclusion solely based on your own experiences. Have you ever acquainted yourself with someone from a professional organization? If not, try befriending one. Engage in discussions with such individuals to understand how they manage to align employees and organizational strategic goals in the same direction. HR jobs are not merely mechanical tasks like operating a computer or any other machine; they revolve around the most crucial asset—Human Resources.

If you are still interested in what we do, kindly reach out to me at aravind.hrgeneralist@gmail.com, and I will provide you with further details.

- Aravindan

PS: I invite you to participate in an opinion survey

Dear All,

Although a lot has been said on this topic already, as an HR professional, I cannot resist putting down my comments.

The first thing that one must understand is that there are incompetent and undeserving employees in every department. So if you have observed some HR people whiling away their time, it is not an extraordinary situation, but remember that such is the case with other departments also; whether visible or not.

Secondly, as mentioned by others, HR does require some creativity and inspiration, and that is not always available at your desk. They need to walk around, get a feel of things and come up with action plans. Having said that, if they are always walking around, then obviously something is wrong. It is equivalent to a programmer sitting at his workstation and playing games the whole day.

Thirdly, HR has two very important roles to play. One, get the right people to do the job, so in a sense lay the foundation. This, by the very nature of it, is such a huge responsibility that a lot of thought, research, and analysis have to go on continuously to streamline the processes so that the job is done in the most cost-effective manner and in the shortest time possible without compromising on quality.

Second, build and nurture the culture of the organization. This is so very important in terms of attracting fresh talent, retaining and developing the existing ones, and creating a brand value. This task is so humongous (I know because I have been involved in this for almost 8 years now) that you hardly get time for anything else.

So the point is, if despite the above, HR people are getting time to faff around (if indeed they are doing so and your observations have been accurate and not assumptions), then either you need to replace the person heading your HR Department (because obviously, he is not giving them proper direction) or your HR department is overstaffed (which is why some people have nothing to do).

Thanks,

Monoswi

Discussion plays an important role in management. In reality, HR personnel are not just chatting; they are providing instructions, counseling, and delivering information.

Vinod K.G.

It is funny to read that HR people chat and only chat. By seeing anybody, how you reached this conclusion that all HR persons are busy chatting.

In today's scenario, no employer or organization is foolish enough to hire or retain someone just for chatting. It is easy to comment, but a wise person thinks before making any comment.

The role and significance of HR in the industry need no introduction. Due to its importance, some people try to target it. It just shows their attitude, and these kinds of comments reflect some sort of grievance or bitterness.

All human beings are not alike. Every department, every field, any organization has different kinds of people, but making such blunt comments is wrong.

Rather than the HR person being involved only in chatting, they are involved in the day-to-day functions of HR. They are engaged with employees at every step of their employment journey, from joining to leaving.

I think your organization may not have proper HR functions or the right people in the responsible HR roles.

I suggest that you join a good organization where you can personally witness and understand the relevance of HR. You will then see what the HR Department actually is and what an HR person does.

Thanks,

Hi all,

It is really nice to see your comments. My question was only to clear my doubt but not intended to hurt anyone's feelings or their job. Well, the title was selected just to catch all your eyes... well, it was achieved. To continue, I have been working in one organization, and what I saw, I shared. Maybe in a big organization where there are 1000+ employees, the HR will obviously be busy with their work. However, in our regional office, there are only 6 of us, and the HR's job, as you can understand, is quite specific. It will be the 9th to send grievances, 17th to send attendance, and 1st to get a printout of the salary slip... that's it. No mingling, no training, no motivation. Just passing time. Well, everyone makes mistakes; that's why pencils always have erasers. Maybe your comments will erase the doubts I had. Really thanks, and keep posting your comments. Being a marketing guy, I have chosen the HR forum as this will improve my knowledge extra. Hey all, did I talk too much? Keep going, everyone, and enjoy your work.

Why do we always have to react so strongly to things as if someone has stepped upon our paining wounds...?!

Let's refresh our basics:

HR is supposed to build and contribute towards making a strong and affable culture... correct?

Now the question is how does one do it...?!

Making policies that make you feel good when you read them won't work...

Comps/benefits/... doubts on this one too...

Having an impressive ambience for your people won't work either...

Aren't you supposed to be a part of your organization's building blocks... your people? To identify and understand where it hurts the most... try talking to one of your grumbling employees in your cozy cabin... (chances are that he won't speak a word!)

Try it out having a coffee in a smoker's zone (if you smoke ;) ) or in the lobby just taking a general break... see the difference...

HR is not just about managing Human resources... more so, it is about relationship building... In fact, most successful HRs would be the ones who are seen socializing with other employees...

Building trust... being empathetic... sensing trouble before it even rumbles... that's what you do when you are chatting around with people.

Of course, if you are going overboard... it simply means that there are serious problems that need to be addressed!

Ensure to be a friend when one needs it... a mentor for someone who has to be taught to learn... a stick when prodding is important... a carrot when pushing!

That's HR chatting :)

Kamal

Let's change the title. Your statement that "Why All HR Personals are busy in chatting?" the statement itself is null and void. There is a chance that most of the HR Personnel are gossiping, chatting and playing politics...but not in all the companies and not all the professionals.
Many companies don't allow internet accessing. Examples of such companies are: TCS, ICICI, Infosys etc.
I hope this will help.
Regards
Sanjeev Sharma

Hi,

Guys, let's stop all this. It's a never-ending debate. We should respect all people's feelings, whether they are HR or employees.

Regards.

Hi guys,

The comments made are to a very large extent true, but not always. It all depends on which industry you are working in and also the size of the company. If you are working for an IT company, most of the time HR is free, at least for 4 hours a day. During that time, what will an HR do? Can he sleep? Or can he go and talk to a software developer who is busy coding? However, companies want HR personnel; such things do happen.

Somebody mentioned that HR behaves rudely and keeps complaining about others. This is very true. In fact, they have forgotten that they were supposed to be friendly with everyone.

Regards,
Naveen

Hello,

Come on, guys. That was just a message that he wrote. Now, I guess he understood what HR people do in the office, and all his confusions and misunderstandings are over. But it's true, one should not mess with HR people. Always maintain good relations because they know what you want and your requirements. They do different activities to reduce your stress and motivate you all. Remember, nobody's job is less than others, but the way you look at others is different.

All the best.

Thanks and Regards,