Asked To Take Calls, When I Joined As A Generalist Hr

Hello Everyone,
I have recently joined a start-up BPO in Pune as a ASM- HR.
In my KRA, which i got through the email it is mentioned about the Generalist Hr role that i will be carrying out.
However after joining I am asked to take calls and support the US customers technically. Is is justified?
When I spoke to the MD about this issue he said okay don't take calls but he is asking me to provide soft skills training to his clients all over the world. I am not ready for that also because I am not willing to travel.
Please help me what should I do? Is it justified on the part of the company to do this? Should I continue in the same organization?
Awaiting for your replies
Regards,
Karishma Jeswani

Hi Karishma,
This is not justified anyways, pls dont do this.. refuse to work and carry on HR activities.

Hi Karishma,
Firstly please go through your Appointment Letter, check if any of the above mentioned job responsibilities mentioned to you like for training uou need to travel or you are required attend calls etc.While accepting your Appointment letter always make a point to read out the details.If this is not the case you are not at all entitled to perform out of scope duties unless you really wish.

Once my manager had told me that in a job even if you are given a handful of sand and asked to count how many sand particles are there in it you have to count.
, now please take calls.
Tring Tring
Halloo Heeellllllo Madam, my mobile phone is not working neither is my DTH neither my pen drive..................

if you are hired as a trainer, then its an established worldwide practise to ask the trainer to spend time on the floor ( regularly throughout the tenure). This includes taking live calls/chats etc. The role becomes esp important during pilot batch or when the training of a batch is complete n they hit the floor..
(check COPC for details)
what does your job description say ?
esp on work content/ movements etc..

Hello Surya,

Thanks for your reply.They are not asking me to train the employees of this company. He is asking me to train the employees of his client say XYZ Pvt ltd,may have a need to train their employees on soft skills, for which I will have to travel. Kindly go through my job profile, which they have shared before my joining:

Assistance with Recruitment -

HRMS

1. Job Description.

2. Identify the Competencies required.

3. Identify the source for hiring.

4. Interview the candidate.

5. Coordinate the interview with the respective department.

6. Hiring Open to Procurement with Documentation

Operations -

1. Joining formalities.

2. Handling Employee Database ( Soft and Hard copies)

3. Leave Management System

4. Handling the payroll.

5. Arranging training on Communication and Soft skills for new joiners.

6. Confirmations, Performance Appraisals, Performance Management.

7. Exit-Interviews.

8. Full and Final Settlement.

9. Assisting management in making new policies.

Employee Relation -

1) Addressing queries of Employees and providing assistance to them

2) Policies Information Distribution within organization to employees.

3) Motivational and Inspirative sessions timely

4) Employee Grievances

Soft Skills and Communications sessions

1) Imparting sessions to employees for soft skills and communication skills.

2) Body language and corporate gestures environment sessions.

3) Training initiation to procurement on soft skills and CS.

4) Drafting Study material if asked.

Regards,

Karishma Jeswani.

hi karishma,
it doesnt mention travel anywhere, thats a strong point in your favor.
if a position requires travelling approx number of days or % are always specified.
your MD seems to be overtly focused to utilize each n every resource (lala type)
write down your priorities, where you want to see yourself in the next few years both in terms of knowledge/ money...
always work towards that...
speak with the MD at length..
if its a temp problem, one can compromise...
else it was a wrong move..
i have worked with 3 small concerns including 2 startup BPOs (names withheld) they sank without a trace even though were backed by strong principals

Hi,
One quality of an HR professional is to get inot any thing which is required by the company and the situation. No thing wrong in getting involven in the operation which will give you a clear idea abouth the employee and the operationla apects.
No job can be done only looking at the KRA or appointment letter at least in HR function. If you dont want travel it is etirely a different reason.
Regards,
Ajith

I dont agree with you Ajith, really its a very bad suggestion. If HR professional job is to do anything that a company requires, then there is no meaning in getting MBA. That deviates our Job and again it takes time to settle down in that area. What is the point in giving Appointment order, Setting KRA's etc, management sets KRA in one areas and asks us to do some other job, end of the year on what basis management is going to rate us.
Regards
Ravi

Dear Karishma,

What you are facing is what a lot of startup employees face - the need to throw the job description out of the window and pitch in to help sustain and grow the startup at the required pace. In a startup, often an employee is required to fill in roles which are not part of their profiles and sometimes for which they might not have the required skills.

If you are being asked to do this occasionally or for a limited duration, it is justified. The reasons could be that an employee in another role quit suddenly and the startup, obviously, does not have any bench strength, or the startup is low on working capital and unable to hire full time employees for certain roles. In such cases, it would be prudent for you to help out by filling those roles and, in the process, displaying adaptability and flexibility and picking up some new skills.

However, this should only be for limited durations. As a thumb rule, if you are spending more than 30% of your time for more than a 3 months doing things for which you are not qualified, take it as a warning sign that things might not be all peachy with the startup. Either talk to the boss and see if the situation is remedied - or run.

Regards,

Nayan Khinvasara

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