HR Dilemma: Do You Need Sales Head Approval for One-on-One Employee Sessions?

Being an HR, is it mandatory to take permission of the sales head for a one-on-one session with other employees?

As an HR professional, it is essential to maintain open communication and collaboration with other departments within the organization. When organizing one-on-one sessions with employees from the sales team, it is advisable to inform and seek approval from the sales head beforehand. This not only shows respect for their leadership within the department but also ensures alignment and transparency in your HR initiatives. Building a strong relationship with the sales head can facilitate smoother interactions and cooperation between HR and sales teams, ultimately benefiting the organization as a whole.

Hi,

Do you mean a one-to-one session with sales employees? Alternatively, does HR just need to send a schedule with a valid reason for a one-on-one meeting? I believe that should be sufficient.

Regards,
Kalpana

Thank you, Kalpana, for your reply.

If I receive negative feedback about a "sales manager" from their junior and need to verify the same by conducting one-on-one sessions with others, is it mandatory to share the reason for the one-on-one session with the sales managers or sales head?

You need to involve the sales head since the manager concerned is part of his department. You can either meet up with the sales head and tell him the facts and the need to do a one-on-one, or you could tell the sales head to join you in the meeting with the concerned salesperson. If I were you, I would tell the sales head to join me in the meeting. This will help ensure his buy-in for any decision that needs to be taken post the meeting, since he is part of the deliberations.

Please hear the other side also. Do not be judgmental without talking to the concerned in line with Principles of Natural justice. You have to hear his version also from the perspective of Employer (Sales Manager). You should act as a facilitator to resolve the grievance impartially.

Dear Santu,

Purpose of the Exercise

What is the motive or purpose behind this exercise? Is it routine and customary to have independent one-to-one meetings with the sales team without the knowledge or involvement of the sales head? If there is no such precedent, take it very cautiously. After all, they are also part of your stream unless HR wishes to take stock of the sales situation to establish or rule out some agenda behind this.

Potential Outcomes and Considerations

In any case, what if you go ahead without the involvement of the sales head and you end up with all sorts of negative feedback about sales? Are you going to revamp the team? How many of them? What is the mandate, and who gave this to you? What level are you in the hierarchy? My hunch is the entire sales team is going to be loyal to the head except for a few disgruntled members. You have to be clear before taking the next step with a plan A while being ready with plan B as well.

It is customary to talk to the group head, tell him the purpose of the one-to-one conversation, and win his confidence. Of course, if you are seeking feedback about the sales head, then it is different.