I just need to vent to people who would understand. I have been in HR for 10+ years and I struggle with the idea that HR is just the department people don't listen to until there is a fire.
I was talking to a mentor/board member about a scenario we have going on, and while checking in on me, I had to share that I am just trying to work with my team so they can better understand when to incorporate HR since they continue to make personnel decisions without me (our sole HR) present - leaving me to constantly have to clean things up and put out fires. Her response was just "Welcome to HR".
I understand that this is a common struggle for HR professionals, but I just don't get it... If so many HR professionals face this, if so many companies have proven track records of significant fines or being sued as a result, why is it still such a struggle/ fight to ask for what seems like the basics...
It's hard not to take personal sometimes, as if it isn't a respect thing. If we were just respected then we would have to put up with this as much..?
I'm not asking for strict compliance to policies or that HR needs to be involved in every decision (please don't) but like don't promise things to employees that don't exist - tell them they can have something we don't have, don't make them feel like they are going to gain or lose a job without even verifying that it's appropriate first.