Human Resources. Do they actually serve a purpose?

[WVUPharm2007]

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I love the initial surveys they trot out there for you to fill out. And its the exact same one everywhere. Do you idiots really think you are going to screen people out by asking them "Do you work hard?"

And WTF is up with these automatons you have to talk to before talking to a real, living pharmacist managing the joint? I'm getting so sick of dealing with them. Every job opportunity in its initial stages, I get phone screened by this dolt that has absolutely no idea what the hell it is we do.

Why and how did they get so much power?

And wtf is with the name? "Human Resources?" What am I, a barrel of oil?

 

[Its Z]

I love the initial surveys they trot out there for you to fill out. And its the exact same one everywhere. Do you idiots really think you are going to screen people out by asking them "Do you work hard?"

And WTF is up with these automatons you have to talk to before talking to a real, living pharmacist managing the joint? I'm getting so sick of dealing with them. Every job opportunity in its initial stages, I get phone screened by this dolt that has absolutely no idea what the hell it is we do.

Why and how did they get so much power?

And wtf is with the name? "Human Resources?" What am I, a barrel of oil?

HR is one of the more important departments you fool. You'll learn that eventually.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

HR is one of the more important departments you fool. You'll learn that eventually.

Sure it is.

 

[gmuskie]

I used to think it was a useless until I worked for a hospital whose HR put importance on the employees and not the big money makers. They helped me get out of an awful situation of a boss who just wanted to ruin careers.

 

[Its Z]

Sure it is.

HR is your friend.... trust me.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Sure it is.

HR is your friend.... trust me.

HR is your friend...and HR nightmares are exactly that.

I swear I spend more time dealing with these types of issues (suppose that's to be expected managing a pharmacy with 70+ employees), and HR can be a great help.

I've come to learn though that when you seek their guidance...it's best to come straight out and tell them how you'd like to deal with a situation, and then have them support you through the process. If you just ask HR an open question "what do I do?"...their counseling services can be questionable, and you rarely get a good outcome.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

So they are only useful to people who went into management and aren't real pharmacists anymore?

I guess that is expected and, thus, makes tons of sense.

 

[SomeGuy]

HR is one of the more important departments you fool. You'll learn that eventually.

I completely agree with this statement, it is very important that you fool HR more than other departments 😉

For example, lying to the "Do you work hard?" question, pretending to love your co-workers, bugging anyone but them with HR-related questions, using encrypted Google SSL search, pretending to be their friend, documenting all of the good things you do (and documenting that only), secretly covering your own behind with meticulous documentation and then getting wayyyy more severance out of them for shutting up, etc.

I've heard that the job of HR is to protect the company from its employees, so they don't get sued when they want to can your ass for some reason. Like having rules against personal email use, and then asking for your personal email address to send you relevant day-to-day documents, because their own filters block basic things like excel files, or asking "What is your greatest flaw?", so they can cite that in their reasons for your dismissal.

 

[Old]

HR is only to protrect management and the company from lawsuits. I have seen them ignore management people who have the worst engagement scores in the company,dm's who swear repeatedly at store level management and whatever else is approved by the RM. At the same time I have seen pharms and store management people written up and let go for virtually nothing. If HR were there to help employees or make sure they are treated fairly why would they allow corporate to follow Jack Welch's 20-70-10 employee program. In this program they define the bottom 10% of pharms and SM's to be terminated and replaced. Employees can be written up for any one of a 100 different metrics and removed from their jobs. The bottom 10% vs the top 10% is often just personal opinion and since you have to remove 10% per year you pick the ones you don't like. Maybe not cute, maybe they don't golf or you don't like her cologne.

HR is definetly there only to protect corporate interests. 👎

 

[Its Z]

I've never heard of Jack Welch program.

So Old... would you rather that corporations have no HR department then?

 

[Old]

I've never heard of Jack Welch program.

So Old... would you rather that corporations have no HR department then?

Have you heard of GE? Jack Welch was there CEO that was credited with increasing it sales and profit and retired with a huge retirement. Google Jack Welch's 20-70-10 employee policy. The chains, at least one that I know, are adopting it. I believe he divorced and his wife and she got a HUGE settlement. I believe he was having and affair with his secretary or personal assisitant. Obviously, she was in the top 20%.

HR has a purpose in administering health, retirement etc programs. My problem has always been the presentation from them that they are there to help and protect the employees. They are not. If you were management you probably loved them. They can help with the correct way to counsel or dismiss an employee so the company does not cross any legal lines. Once again---just to protect the company.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I wanted to be a manager for a while...but **** it. I can tell right now, it would drive me crazy. I could't deal with those idiots any more than once per career.

 

[Its Z]

I know who Jack Welch is. I just don't subscribe to his HR scheme nor know about it. And I have not worked where it's practiced.

HR indeed protects the corporation yet it also protects the employees. I've actually had several CEOs and a CFO...and some COOs get termed.. and HR was right there. This of course protected the corporation yet it also protected the employees from those rotten administrators.

Your view is cynical due to your experiences I'm sure.

But to say all HR is good for is to protect the corporation is not accurate.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I know who Jack Welch is. I just don't subscribe to his HR scheme nor know about it. And I have not worked where it's practiced.

HR indeed protects the corporation yet it also protects the employees. I've actually had several CEOs and a CFO...and some COOs get termed.. and HR was right there. This of course protected the corporation yet it also protected the employees from those rotten administrators.

Your view is cynical due to your experiences I'm sure.

But to say all HR is good for is to protect the corporation is not accurate.

Whatever. The vast majority of the time, the **** falls...it doesn't rise...

 

[DrPepsi]

I love the initial surveys they trot out there for you to fill out. And its the exact same one everywhere. Do you idiots really think you are going to screen people out by asking them "Do you work hard?"

And WTF is up with these automatons you have to talk to before talking to a real, living pharmacist managing the joint? I'm getting so sick of dealing with them. Every job opportunity in its initial stages, I get phone screened by this dolt that has absolutely no idea what the hell it is we do.

Why and how did they get so much power?

And wtf is with the name? "Human Resources?" What am I, a barrel of oil?

You don't think there's a purpose to HR?


What exactly are you going to do when you walk into the bathroom only to find a colleague using the sink as a toilet or a colleague that hasn't taken a shower in a month?

 

[Its Z]

Whatever. The vast majority of the time, the **** falls...it doesn't rise...

One day you'll learn. You just aint ready yet today.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

You don't think there's a purpose to HR?


What exactly are you going to do when you walk into the bathroom only to find a colleague using the sink as a toilet or a colleague that hasn't taken a shower in a month?

It doesn't take HR to fire someone.

I will forever claim that they are useless. Unless you are in management, apparently.

 

[Its Z]

It doesn't take HR to fire someone.

I will forever claim that they are useless.

And it doesn't take a lawyer to review a contract or a CEO to make decisions. Heck... what does a COO do now???

 

[Its Z]

heck..why does a business need a manager? Workers just need to figure out who's going to work when and just everyone do their job in peace.

After all, that manager is only out for himself... not employees.

 

[Its Z]

Oh yeah...get rid of the benefits manager... no need... all the information is online.. while you're at it..get rid of the DOP... deadbeat pharmacist anyways.... get rid of all the department heads and let employees run the show..... who needs a CNO... they're usually old and tired biatchy nurses..

Oh yeah...every business should get rid of HR departments and every Wags and CVS should get rid of store managers... they don't really need them anyways..

 

[Its Z]

Why do we need a president?? He's only out for himself and his glory.. impeach that mofo!!

 

[Its Z]

HR is an important department. They serve their purpose by trying to foster a productive environment for the employees. Yes, they deal with trouble employees... but to say management is immune from scrutiny of HR is inaccurate. If you're a productive employee, more often than not, HR is your friend than a foe.

 

[Old]

I know who Jack Welch is. I just don't subscribe to his HR scheme nor know about it. And I have not worked where it's practiced.

HR indeed protects the corporation yet it also protects the employees. I've actually had several CEOs and a CFO...and some COOs get termed.. and HR was right there. This of course protected the corporation yet it also protected the employees from those rotten administrators.

Your view is cynical due to your experiences I'm sure.

But to say all HR is good for is to protect the corporation is not accurate.

All of our opinions our based on our personal experiences. HR can overlook whatever they want to overlook. Their primary function is to protect the corporation. There are probably differences in HR regionals etc and personnel and what they will allow or turn a blind eye towards.

My main problem with HR is simple. If for example you are painter- call yourself a painter. If you are HR make it clear that you are primarily there to protect the company. I personally resent someone presenting themselves as there to help you but really aren't. call a spade a spade.

Be happy you never worked under the 20-70-10 program. You may never have made it to the level you did. Afterall, there are alot of cute grads,boys and girls, that may have filled your shoes years ago(with HR's approval). Afterall, 10% have to go every year.

 

[Its Z]

All of our opinions our based on our personal experiences. HR can overlook whatever they want to overlook. Their primary function is to protect the corporation. There are probably differences in HR regionals etc and personnel and what they will allow or turn a blind eye towards.

My main problem with HR is simple. If for example you are painter- call yourself a painter. If you are HR make it clear that you are primarily there to protect the company. I personally resent someone presenting themselves as there to help you but really aren't. call a spade a spade.

Be happy you never worked under the 20-70-10 program. You may never have made it to the level you did. Afterall, there are alot of cute grads,boys and girls, that may have filled your shoes years ago(with HR's approval). Afterall, 10% have to go every year.

I don't know about all those percentages nor do I care what GM did..evidently it didn't workout too well for them.

Your issue isn't with HR. Your issue is with the people who work in HR who's not doing what they're suppose to do.

It's like this... Don't hate christianity because you think Jimmy Swaggart is a scumbag.

 

[Its Z]

Alright. To be fair, I just read the differentiation theory and 20-70-10 rule.

You know what... 20% of the employees really do produce 80% of the business in my field.

Your issue with the differentiation is the people's subjective valuation.. of course that's not fair. However, the principle of 20-80 can work if it's played out with objective measures. I don't know about the bottom 10%....

Your issue after all isn't with the HR...it's the Admin who subscribes to the differentiation then only to use subjective means to harass employees... HR doesn't spearhead this... Admin does. And it's the admin's manipulation of HR that you loathe.

 

[FruitFly]

HR processes your paychecks... if for that reason alone, be nice to them!

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Oh yeah...get rid of the benefits manager... no need... all the information is online.. while you're at it..get rid of the DOP... deadbeat pharmacist anyways.... get rid of all the department heads and let employees run the show..... who needs a CNO... they're usually old and tired biatchy nurses..

Oh yeah...every business should get rid of HR departments and every Wags and CVS should get rid of store managers... they don't really need them anyways..

Now you are making some sense! The proletariat shall rise!

 

[Old]

I don't know about all those percentages nor do I care what GM did..evidently it didn't workout too well for them.

Your issue isn't with HR. Your issue is with the people who work in HR who's not doing what they're suppose to do.

It's like this... Don't hate christianity because you think Jimmy Swaggart is a scumbag.

Its GE not GM unless they used the program also. I have read that many companies adopted it and some have quit using it.

HR reports to whom? They have to go along with the RM or AVP with the goals they set. So, writing up people over virtually nothing or one or the 100 metrics out there is the right thing to do? So why doesn't HR stand up against some of these things. They have to go to the RM or AVP to complain which puts their job on the line.

20% of the people are the most productive? A very subjective opinion! Maybe you were involved with developing new policies and procedures. Maybe you did a great job at it. But, could you have done any of it without the techs and the pharms who did the grunt work? Could you have done their job and all the other things you may have done? Are these the people who you felt were unproductive? The grunt workers may have felt you were unproductive and were in the bottom 10% and should have been gotten rid of. Maybe they perceived you in a negative way. Maybe they thought you were a butt kisser to get ahead. its all perception. Often times wrong.


HR is really not there for the employees but for for Corporate.

If HR is really for the employees why would they not prevent, or at least resist the 20-70-10?

Now, you don't like Jimmy Swaggart? You can't go to heaven unless you like Jimmy(and send him your money)

 

[Its Z]

I don't know of any HR that subscribes to 20-70-10 rule. You can take it up with whoever you work for. It still doesn't change the concept of what HR does... And I don't know of any company who terminates 10% of their employees every year.

It's not the HR that writes up employees...it's the supervisors.

And do you know of any employers who's there to benefit employees? And what's wrong with corporations trying to protect themselves? It's the capitalism...either you accept it or you don't.

When I started a corporation, I didn't do it to help employees.... it was for my aspiration and goals. But I wasn't unfair.

And would you rather a corporation get a frivolous lawsuit and bankrupt and shutdown? How does that help the employees? Do you truly not believe HR's function aids corporation in turn help hard working employees? If not, we will just have to agree to disagree.

How does benefit management not help the employees or HR-payroll going out of their way to make sure employees are paid on time not benefit the employees?

Your premise is based upon some subjective supervisors showing favoritism towards employees leading to HR being useless. It leads me to believe you've never really worked with HR on real HR issues dealing with troubled employees.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

When I started a corporation, I didn't do it to help employees.... it was for my aspiration and goals. But I wasn't unfair.

Depends on who you ask. According to Marx and Engels, you were stealing the value of your workers' labor unfairly.

 

[Its Z]

Depends on who you ask. According to Marx and Engels, you were stealing the value of your workers' labor unfairly.

Oh yeah... socialism has really helped proletariat prosper...didn't it?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Oh yeah... socialism has really helped proletariat prosper...didn't it?

Well, Communism as a state party/religion was a failure. However, socialistic programs that came about because of proletariat led movements like the unions have done great things for them, capitalist pig. 👍

 

[Its Z]

Well, Communism as a state party/religion was a failure. However, socialistic programs that came about because of proletariat led movements like the unions have done great things for them, capitalist pig. 👍

And another North Korean baby starves to death.

 

[Its Z]

It's like this Mikey... Mikey opens a pharmacy and runs it 9-5... but more and more customers needs you to stay open till 6... so you change the hours.

Oh no...your unionized techs voted and said no can do.... they will strike..and while they're at it, they want a raise... You can't fire them either.

Welcome to union.

 

[MountainPharmD]

It's like this Mikey... Mikey opens a pharmacy and runs it 9-5... but more and more customers needs you to stay open till 6... so you change the hours.

Oh no...your unionized techs voted and said no can do.... they will strike..and while they're at it, they want a raise... You can't fire them either.

Welcome to union.

It works out pretty good for the employees. At least we wouldn't get treated like we do now. Working under a union was the best job I have had as a Pharmacist. It took me moving to the chit hole State of Texass to realize how good I had it.

 

[Its Z]

It works out pretty good for the employees. At least we wouldn't get treated like we do now. Working under a union was the best job I have had as a Pharmacist. It took me moving to the chit hole State of Texass to realize how good I had it.

Did they force you to move?

Do you know if retail pharmacists on Mountain state are treated any different than Texas now?

 

[MountainPharmD]

Did they force you to move?

Do you know if retail pharmacists on Mountain state are treated any different than Texas now?

Same as when I left. You are correct, no one forced me to move. Had I known in advance how bad things would be down here I would never have moved no matter how much snow we got or how many times my wife drove off the road and got stuck.

It is what it is however. What can you do?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

It's like this Mikey... Mikey opens a pharmacy and runs it 9-5... but more and more customers needs you to stay open till 6... so you change the hours.

Oh no...your unionized techs voted and said no can do.... they will strike..and while they're at it, they want a raise... You can't fire them either.

Welcome to union.

Hell yeah. Go union. They probably deserve a raise.

 

[Its Z]

Same as when I left. You are correct, no one forced me to move. Had I known in advance how bad things would be down here I would never have moved no matter how much snow we got or how many times my wife drove off the road and got stuck.

It is what it is however. What can you do?

Oh I don't know...my CO buddy travels 3 hours to work at WAGs...cuz aint no job around his house... I got him a per diem job around his house...not really working out. He was an RM at one point.. but HR wasn't friendly to him I guess.

 

[Its Z]

Hell yeah. Go union. They probably deserve a raise.

Coming out of your pocket buddy...

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Coming out of your pocket buddy...

Let's be honest though...the **** am I going to do with money? You can only spend so much money at D&B's. Don't care about having a nice house...don't really care about having a nice car. But if I could give my tech's kids a college education. Now that's worth something.

In 100 years, the human race will live under communism by necessity, anyway. The only people that will have work will be the creative. Artists, mostly. Everything else will be done by robot. It will be sweet as hell. We'll have robot slaves work for us.

Until they become self conscious and kill us all.

But that interim slave period will be SWEET.

 

[Its Z]

Let's be honest though...the **** am I going to do with money? You can only spend so much money at D&B's. Don't care about having a nice house...don't really care about having a nice car. But if I could give my tech's kids a college education. Now that's worth something.

In 100 years, the human race will live under communism by necessity, anyway. The only people that will have work will be the creative. Artists, mostly. Everything else will be done by robot. It will be sweet as hell. We'll have robot slaves work for us.

Until they become self conscious and kill us all.

But that interim slave period will be SWEET.

Unfortunately benefits and increase salaries drain your business and Mikey's pharmacy bankrupts.

Everyone is out of job.

Win! 👍

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Unfortunately benefits and increase salaries drain your business and Mikey's pharmacy bankrupts.

Everyone is out of job.

Win! 👍

lmao...ok, adam smith...🙄

 

[PharmaTope]

HR is one of the more important departments you fool. You'll learn that eventually.

their sole purpose is to protect corporate. it isnt there to protect workers which is why you cant really go to HR when there is a big issue without putting your job in jeopardy in the future.

 

[Its Z]

their sole purpose is to protect corporate. it isnt there to protect workers which is why you cant really go to HR when there is a big issue without putting your job in jeopardy in the future.

We all know your sole purpose on SDN is to preach gloom and doom.

I will prove you wrong with reasoning and explanation instead of making a blanket statement.

The real department with a sole purpose to protect the corporate is "legal" not HR. It's the corporate attorneys who deal with potential risk to the corporate from other entities or from employees.

Now, HR has many other functions.

Salary & Benefit Management
Recruiting
Annual competencies
Payroll
Training
Personnel relations

At least "Old" gave a reasoning why he/she felt HR was only there to protect the corporate. His reasoning was that because they allow Jack Welch's 70-20-10 methodology, it must be that HR is only there to protect the corporate.

You on the other hand made a blanket statement that HR's sole purpose is to protect the corporate therefore talking to them can jeopardize your job. That's not an argument nor very convincing. If it's an opinion and therefore a statement, then it's a weak one.

One of the things HR does is protect the corporate. But it is not the "sole" purpose of HR. I'll go out on the limb and say that those of you who feel that HR is nothing more than corporate protections, you must work retail and the only time you dealt with HR is when they hire you and fire you and you have no idea who they are and where they work out of.

I started an HR department at my own company because starting and maintaining a 401K benefit package and health plan for my employees were a nightmare. That's one of the more difficult tasks I realized I had no expertise in.

Remember this...in the corporate environment.. you're just a number and replaceable...especially now with pending oversupply of pharmacists. As an employee, you really aren't that important nor do you deserve and receive as much entitlement as you feel you should. If you understand this, than I feel your pain.. but to say HR is nothing more than a corporate protection isn't quite accurate.

Look at it this way...HR is like a corporate condom... the protection goes both ways as the corporate has you bent over.