Facing a Tough Boss: How to Handle Unfair Bus Schedule Demands in HR?

Dear fellow HR professionals, I need your help. This morning, I arrived at work using the second staff bus. To clarify, I work outside of town, and we are provided with two staff buses to ferry us to and from town to work every day. Both buses depart early in the morning at 7:30 and arrive at work by 8:00. However, the second bus starts 2 km behind the first bus, and they use the same route, so it arrives slightly later than the first bus, maybe 5-10 minutes late.

Challenge with Bus Schedule

My challenge is that the bus I use to get into town drops me off at the second bus loading bay. My boss is demanding that I use the first bus, which means I have to walk two kilometers every day to catch the first bus, leaving the nearby bus that all other employees use. She threatens to write me a warning letter because I already have a verbal warning. She makes life in our department difficult in many aspects. What can I do?

I appreciate your advice.

Regards,
SC

First of all, switch over to the first bus so that your HOD's ego is satisfied. Then, slowly, as an HR person, you should ask the driver of the second bus to be on time because the company's valuable time is getting wasted every day by 5 to 10 minutes. Pose this in the interest of the company and ensure that the second bus reaches at least a minute earlier than the first bus. Then, slowly switch over to the second bus.

I agree that for some days, you may have to face troubles, but there is no other way because the boss is particular. From your boss's point of view, it is also correct that HR should not be late. By following the above steps, both your and your boss's purposes are served.

Regards,
Kamesh

Thanks for the advice; I will try. My problem was that she always wants to make our lives difficult. You are right when you said the second bus time needs to be adjusted, its departure time, but in our organization, it's only her who can make that suggestion, and she is reluctant. Otherwise, it turns sour. Since I joined the organization, I have learned that every offense is dismissible; many employees have fallen victim.

She is swift in suspending employees. Fortunately, I deal with Training, not IR, and she expects to control employees in her department like machines. Whenever she sends, especially me, to an assignment, and I am about to achieve, she withdraws me and assigns someone else. She asks you to represent her in some meetings, and the moment you begin to gain recognition, she withdraws you and sends someone else. Okay, the bottom line is it's difficult to taste success.

She wants us to put her signature on everything, to an extent that she even wrote me an email after I had responded to an outsider, copying her, that every time when I respond to an outsider, I need to put her signature on my email. Hahahaha, this is too much. If she notices you talking to an executive, you are in serious trouble, and she exaggerates issues from executive meetings. Small issues are magnified; for example, having a personal visitor without her consent is now a dismissible offense. It's now getting on my nerves, guys. Help me manage; I do not want to quit because of someone. Help me manage the situation.