May I ask what were the so worse policies - the timing? The leave policy? The travel policy? The internet usage policy?
What was not the worse policy. Lets take one at a time. The timing: Yes this is an issue. In my previous organization, I was working as a team lead in BPO and use to do night shifts. Due to nature of the work and team managment related work, I had to stay back often late after my normal shift hour. I never got a penny for staying back but by chance if I got late the next day I did got penalized for that. When I asked my manager he told me "HR Policy". When asked HR they said it is implemented to encourage the reporting on time but when asked that what about staying back after shif, no OT for that? then HR replies, it is your job to finish your work so it doesnt matter if you are staying back.
Leave Policy: Again related to what I mentioned above. You stay late no reward but you are late then you will get one PL deducted.
Appraisal Policy: I don;t know why your appraisal was delayed - did you ever ask them?
As I mentioned I use to do night shift, but when it was the time for appraisal, if I had to meet HR, I was asked to come in day time and to make it better, in afternoon. When asked why, the answer was HR cant stay late. Does the HR thinks that an employee can work 24 hours? Is it even humane? Now coming to appraisal, once the entire cycle of appraisals were done it use to take 4-5 months for HR to finalize the incerement and declare it. Four to five months?? The reason given by HR was, we have 1000+ employees so it takes this much of time. My question is that when you know it will take this much of time then why dont you start your work a bit early, why HR was reactive then proactive. Ok there might be some delay but this much time is just too much and every time we had an appraisal, the time increased further however surprisingly the employee strength decreased. Later I came to know that it was not because of workload that appraisal was delayed but because to save money, so that if some one leaves in between they wont pay him as per that appraised pay out. Disgusting, because appraisal was done for the work he did so he should get what he worked for. This was the reason of delay. Even worse, the promotions will not be announced as well because of the same reason but yes they will ask the employee to keep working on the same designation unofficially. I have seen my manager send an email requesting HR to announce promotion but still same delaying tactics.
Whether they are superior to you or not - should ot be your problem. If you have an issue - sort it out. And for your kind information - a Supporting function does not mean that you can walk over them... And no HR tends to forget that,.Probably thats your issue. I dont know what kind of people you have come across, but if this is the under estimating attitude you have with anyone (regardless of an HR!), dont expect people to be good to you buddy. And please dont tend to forget, that he is also another employee like you who has his own limitations specified by the management
Now you say that HR is just an employee like you etc etc.. If you agree by what you have said then tell me why HR behaves like GOD when they are just a SUPPORT staff. Why dont they admit the fault when they are at fault. Why dont they admit the short comings. When asked they will always cry about limitations but will never work on making it better. HR seems to motivate employees and help them, I have seen employees working for more then 24 hours at a stretch but I never saw any HR coming to them and asking them if they are comfortable or not and have never seen any HR talking to any manager about this. IS HR blind? This is the same HR who will enforce policies which are not realistic and will go at length justifying them. and when they will have no answer they will say, what you said' "We are an employee and are doing what have been asked to do"
When I changed my job and move to another company in another city, I asked them to help me in relocation, they said it is not possible for them to ask each and every individual employee if they can have a room partner. They are correct but least they can out a notice at a notice board? they didnt do that , why? they didnt want to take out a printout and save paper and save trees by not doing that?
HR is same no matter wherever you go. Its not possible for me to give all the examples here about all the experiences I have but this should give you an idea of what I am talking about and this is not just me but there are many people out there who have felt the same.
If HR wants to be looked upon and not looked down then they should actually start working with employees and not against employees. If they are just puppet of the managment then they should accept it and least of all should not justify to what they are enforcing. But in case if they are justifying that policy then they should also be bold enough to accept the attitude of the employees towards them and should not cry that we are employee frndly and blah .. blah.. blah..