Balancing Personal and Professional Bonds: How Do HRs Manage Employee Relationships?

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

As an HR professional, how do you manage your relationships with employees when you are at the office? For example:

- Maintaining a purely official relationship.
- Sharing meals with employees outside of the HR department.
- Engaging in personal conversations with one or more employees from other departments.
- Being very friendly with employees, almost like buddies.

However, when the HR is too familiar with employees, there can be challenges. For instance, when an employee requests something from HR, the HR's expression may change, leading to a clash between personal and professional relationships.

In such situations, how should HR professionals navigate both personal and official relationships with employees? Consider scenarios where employees:

- Live in the same area as the HR and may travel together.
- Share the same religious beliefs or ideas.
- Have similar interests in movies, sports, hobbies, etc.
- Are connected through blood relations, friendships, or past classmates.

At times, there may arise situations where the HR can only prioritize one relationship—either maintaining a personal bond with the employee or upholding their dedication and commitment to their work.

Your insights on how to effectively manage these relationships would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

As an HR professional, how do you manage your relationships with employees in the workplace? Do you maintain a purely official relationship, or do you engage in activities such as sharing meals with employees outside the HR department or having personal conversations with employees from other departments? Are you very informal with employees, almost like buddies?

However, when the HR becomes overly friendly with employees, there can be challenges. For instance, when an employee requests something from HR, there may be a change in the HR's expression due to the conflict between personal and official relationships. In such situations, how should HR navigate between personal and official relationships with employees?

There may be instances where employees:
- Live in the same area as the HR, leading to shared commutes.
- Share similar religious beliefs or ideas.
- Have common interests in movies, sports, hobbies, etc.
- Are related through blood, friendship, classmates, etc.

At times, HR may face a dilemma where they can only prioritize either maintaining a personal relationship with an employee or upholding their dedication and commitment to their work.

What do you think is the best approach in handling such situations?

Thank you,

Adorable

I agree with Lovebirds. We can keep only one relationship happy, either a personal relationship with the employee or determination & commitment towards the work. I strongly feel that since you have come to the organization to work and contribute, you should have a strong commitment to work rather than the relationships which come and go. Yes, there are a few companies where we find lifelong friends, but even in those cases, I prefer work to be work and personal life to be personal. The two should be separated and not be mixed.

Others, please share your thoughts.

Julie

Lovebird:

Let me shed some light on this topic. It is an interesting one to discuss. When you want to cultivate a better culture and environment, it is a must that you should be friendly with your employees. As an HR professional, it is essential to not distance yourself from them. You can take on various roles such as a facilitator, friend, HR, consultant, and many more.

Let me provide an example: if you have a team of over 100 people working in your company and you act solely as an HR, secluded in your cabin and not being aware of what is happening on the floor, it will not benefit you. To foster a culture of fun and camaraderie in the workplace, you should engage with your employees, particularly with the technical staff, collaborate with them, and help the company progress towards its goals.

HR is someone who comprehends the problems of both the company and its employees and offers solutions. I welcome the perspectives of other HR professionals.

Thanks, - Mirza