Feeling Isolated at Work: How Should HR Handle Rude and Exclusionary Behavior?

Challenges in the Workplace

I have recently joined a company as a Senior Executive HR. The initial few days were awesome, but the past few weeks have been getting very ugly day by day. Employees here are quite rude and take HR for granted. I am very polite to them, but I often receive rude responses. Once a task given to an admin executive was not completed, and when I inquired about it, I received a very rude response. I escalated the issue to my boss, and although he agreed with me, things have changed since then. They have started to exclude me, like not asking me for tea or going together for a break. Even my boss has reduced his interaction with me.

Initially, I had a lot of quality work to do, and I have been performing well. However, I am now not included in any important decisions, and they are in the process of hiring an Assistant Manager HR. I was informed that the new hire will be my new boss. Despite my jolly nature, I am trying my best to remain normal, but that admin executive has turned others against me, and I am receiving cold and rude responses. I am unsure how to handle this immature behavior.

Understanding the Organizational Dynamics

The type of industry and the work setting of the poster is not known. In some organizations, the top management treats line functions as more important, while staff functions are seen as supplementary. In such a setup, implementing reformative steps by a newcomer, particularly when they belong to the staff, cannot be done overnight because the comforts of the status quo initially resist any quick and immediate change. The quality of a work environment greatly influences the attitude and behavior of employees, as they form a closed social group.

Navigating Challenges as a New HR Manager

As an HR manager new to the organization, you must first understand this. Amidst a tight work schedule and reporting to more than one superior simultaneously, anyone might falter in the niceties of their response when sharply questioned about a certain omission. Instead of sorting this out yourself patiently, when you took this matter immediately to your boss, his reaction seemed very diplomatic. He merely recognized your right to complain without advising you to use it sparingly and probably informed the particular employee to ignore this and continue with their work as usual. This is discernible from the way you are subsequently isolated by all.

Adapting to Social Dynamics

A manager should be very sensible and not too sensitive, withdrawing into mental isolation in such a situation of social boycott. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Changing jobs will not be useful as the situation will be the same everywhere unless you change your attitude and responses according to people and situations.

Thanks, I will surely keep it in my mind. I am in an IT firm, and the atmosphere is quite open. I am actually dealing in a diplomatic manner now and just focusing on my work. I am not discussing it with anyone and keeping my interactions normal. I hope with time things would sort out.

Understanding Workplace Dynamics

How long has the admin executive been in the company? What type of interaction have you noticed this person having with others? Newcomers should first observe, interact, and then attempt to make changes. Keep moving around as required, interact with people, and work proactively. People who interact directly will then come to know you as a person and as an HR professional. Views will change.

When older staff (HR executive) speak negatively about newer staff, people who know them earlier will tend to believe them first. However, with you going around and interacting, things will change. Changes are always initially resented, but when people see advantages accruing, then things change. The way people treat you sends a message. Try to analyze it. A kind of introspection can be done because you are new, and they quickly decided to hire an Assistant Manager just above you, adding another step in the ladder before you reach manager.

Try to remain diplomatic and avoid any sort of disagreement to the extent possible. Probably, people need to develop faith and understand you better. However, the reactions are a little too harsh with you, and only you can know whether there is any specific reason, as they were okay initially.

Well, my boss is a finance guy, but he oversees HR/administration and finance. He mentioned that he doesn't have enough time to guide me, so he plans to change my reporting manager. There are a few individuals who seem to have a sort of monopoly here, and I have noticed that personal relationships are often given more importance than actual work. Currently, I am choosing to remain silent as switching jobs frequently would not be a favorable option for my career.