Exploring the Role of HR Managers in Interfering with Operations for Company Growth

Dear Sir,

I would like to ask a question about whether a new company's HR manager can interfere in operations. If yes, then to what extent?

Up to it does not affect the company's revenue.

HR should make sure that safety measures are followed, discipline, and employee relations/welfare. They have to ensure that the company runs smoothly by following all statutory compliances and ensuring employee safety.

Thanks.

Hi Vaishalidokhe,
Your query is of very general nature.
By design in any company, all departments are HR department's customers. It is imperative to say that a good HR is fully people oriented. Operations could be thought of as the back bone of any Organization. Inspite of Customer Supplier relationship HR has to make sure that peoples’ interests are always taken care of.
Now let us focus on your query. Suppose an HR man finds that in Operations department lot of Overtime is occurring, it can certainly be questioned politely.
Take another example. Let us say that more accidents occur in an Operations dept. HR can again politely question the reasons for the same. They can ask the subsequent implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
In both the examples cited above, HR in turn is answerable to Statutory Authorities.
What is interference or involvement depends also on the Company culture.
V.Raghunathan

Hello,

HR is a staff function, i.e., a "support function." Making things happen is a line function. HR has no authority over the "line," and therefore, it should only play an "advisory role." It is the personality of the concerned HR that perhaps makes him interfere in the line function. This could be happening with the best of intentions but should be curbed, just as it could be happening with "power-mongering" motivations to impose self-importance.

One must know the intentions before sitting in judgment or initiating any "corrective" actions. Unless one has all the facts and has taken an objective view of the matter and issues, it would vitiate the organizational atmosphere. Unless you share more facts and state the purpose of your query, I am afraid you are unlikely to receive correct advice.

Regards,
Samvedan
February 12, 2015

Though there is a line between line and staff functions in general, we cannot insist on a watertight compartmentalization in certain cases. No doubt that demarcations should be there. But it should be mutually accepted.

You should certainly elaborate on the issue with details. Until the service rules and regulations describe it, no one can interfere in anyone's work. The hierarchy and reporting are well defined.