HR in Small Firms: Why Do We Feel Like Puppets with No Say in Decisions?

Hi to all, why is the HR person in small firms treated like a puppet? All the decisions are taken by the management, and ultimately, we have to handle the consequences. You can't even suggest ideas to them. And in return, they expect everything from our side.

You could have given a little more detail, like your designation, the type of business you are in, and whether yours is a private or public limited company, etc. If you feel that you are a puppet, then let me tell you, my dear friend, that almost every single employee in most departments feels like a puppet. You might be in HR, and that is why you feel like a puppet. Nevertheless, why do people become puppets?

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Regards,
Dinesh V Divekar

In small organizations, the big boss is the law. Almost all departments suffer in the same way. Such organizations seldom grow. Very few sensible entrepreneurs try to run their organizations professionally. Growth is signified by professionals joining the organizations and earning a reputation for the way it is run.

Regards,
V. Raghunathan

Well, this is a common problem in many small organizations, but it also depends on the level of the employees. If you are a fresher or have less experience working in junior profiles, then you have to follow the instructions. However, if you have a really good idea that you want to share, you can tell your reporting person.

Mr. Divekar's reply is apt. Please provide full details for discussion. Further, management is the final authority to make decisions and then reap the good or bad. The staff has to give their views, appraise the situation, and leave the rest to management to act upon. Self-pity shall make one feel more feeble, like a puppet.

Dear Mr. Sach,

Mr. V. Raghunathan has already mentioned that the boss of the firm is the law and all other employees are puppets. This is true to a great extent in small or even medium-sized companies [I won't call it an organization] in probably all departments. Any employee not adopting this culture is either thrown out or compelled to leave the company. These types of companies do not grow. Hence, if you are looking for a bright future, find out if you have the courage to speak to the BOSS on this issue. Can you convince the BOSS on this matter? If you fail to do so, find another organization that suits your profile.

The Role of HR Beyond Traditional Functions

HR does not merely mean recruitment, office-job training, salary, leave, PF, etc. One of the most important job functions is to do a SWOT analysis of every individual in the firm/organization and train the people to achieve their objectives. The BOSS must ensure the enjoyment of the job by every individual employee.

Regards,
C S Pundlik,
Pune

Organizations are driven by business needs and ultimately profit. It is business that provides us with a salary. You should never feel like a puppet because even your boss is driven by business/profit needs. If you try to apply the same standard way of working everywhere in every situation, you will always feel uncomfortable and out of place. Please try to understand the business requirements and act accordingly. Do not assume that practices your 'X' friend in 'Y' company is following can also be applied in your current organization. Practices and habits should be adapted as per the business/organization's requirements.

Thanks

I tend to agree with Mr. Divekar. In any employment, a person will be listened to by the management only if:

- He makes a visible contribution.
- He has the courage to frankly tell the boss what he feels.
- He makes himself indispensable by his work, knowledge, and skills.
- He is always mentally willing to quit if he cannot align with the boss; here, the need is the key issue.

All of the above is not possible for most of us; hence, the working solution to this is to get the responsibility and authority clear, see if it is honored, give feedback, and then if it does not suit your temperament, decide to tolerate it as long as you want or quit. Please keep in mind that the next organization may not be very different.

Regards,
A.A. Pendharkar

Dear Ronald,

The statement that you have quoted looks absolutely nice, but it is more suited for training seminars or school education. The practical scenario is quite different. When the poster raised this query, they probably meant "puppet" as "lack of empowerment of the employee."

I do not know in which company you work, what the level of empowerment is in your company, or how empowerment is defined there. However, in the course of my training activities, I have seen a large number of companies where staff are suffocating because of a lack of empowerment.

Empowerment Culture in India

In India, the culture of empowerment is completely missing. This happens even in companies where IITians or IIM graduates are at the helm, including Managing Directors. Decision-making is completely centralized, and there is no room for taking decisions. Bosses do not want the staff to grow.

Very senior HR or other professionals write many things in their blogs. However, how many have written case studies about empowerment in their company?

American Companies and Empowerment

American companies have made astounding progress because American bosses do not mind giving authority to their managers. In my leadership training, several times this question came up about the lack of authority. "Boss is always right" is the mantra for survival. Those who have tried to defy it, have you found out what their fate was?

Classic Example

I once conducted a training program for a healthcare company whose turnover was INR 35,000 million at that time. Each participant was the HOD of some department, and in total, there were 13 participants. Of these, five were PhDs. The person at the top level of that business unit had a VP rank. When the training was in progress, the VP kept on calling the HODs in between. None of the HODs could show the courage to tell the VP that they were attending the training and to keep off the matter till the next day. Their continuous movement was disturbing. Finally, I asked openly about their movement. One participant quipped, "We have to mind our appraisal also." Everybody started laughing.

What is this example? Did the VP make puppets out of the HODs or not? On completion of the training, the HR Head rued the VP's behavior in private and mentioned that the VP is the biggest impediment in fostering the learning culture!

Thanks,

Dinesh V Divekar

I want to add just one line. One does not become a puppet; you are a puppet if you agree to be one.

Since HR is a support function and not directly involved in revenue generation, it often happens that it is ignored in small setups, as the primary objective of the owner (proprietor) is revenue generation. Similarly, there is a misconception that you will be allowed to do whatever you want if you are part of a large setup or organization. The function of these large organizations is based on the vision and policies framed by the Board of Directors. Not only HR but all departments and functions have to work in line with such policies.

Everybody will agree that HR is the most important function in the organization and can work miracles. It is your challenge to convince your management that your activities will definitely help in the development of the organization. Try to implement some motivational activities (involving less revenue) to boost the morale of your employees. Work as a "Business Partner" rather than working in isolation as a function, and I am very sure that your management will definitely understand the importance of your department.

Regards,
Shreyas Dave
HR Consultant

Let me be philosophical. This world is a stage, and we are all puppets governed and controlled by unseen threads and hands. Frankly, almost all employees feel that way. In fact, the owner himself is a puppet of circumstances. Why do you feel like that? It is very likely that you are just following the directives for which you are being paid. After all, he is the owner; he knows what he wants, and you are there willingly to fulfill his requirements, not your own perceptions and views. You may go anywhere, yet still feel the same way. Take a deeper look inwards at how much freedom you have to do things your way in your family. How much do your spouse or children force you to change? If you want to be the puppeteer and be on your own, even there you may have to dance to the tunes of the market diktat.