blame evil HR

[seigus]

Not really sure if this goes here, but we'll see if it stays.
Do, or have, any of you ever worked in HR? I'm in the training department right now, but my organization puts us under the HR blanket, and so I am part of a team that deals with differing problems with employees; fortunately I am in a consulting/brainstorming capacity, and never have to actually do the enforcement/punishment/personnel actions. I have in the past been involved in that, though.
I work for a state agency, which means that people who screw up are given a couple of chances to improve before given the boot - provided they didn't stab a coworker, drive drunk, that sort of thing. This of course requires documentation of the inapproriate act/incompetent work, and efforts to improve. MANY supervisors and managers do not even talk to employees about these problems until the very last straw has occured, then they run to HR wanting to fire someone, and are told that legally there must be accompanying paperwork, etc. Yeah, they've been a terrible employee for 10 years, but no one has ever spoken to them or written a single word about it. Then, of course, comes the bitching and blaming because "HR won't let us fire them!" This is not the only place where this has happened.
So my question is, has this kind of thing ever happened to any of you, or have you been negatively affected by it? How often? At different places? How do you resist the urge to take a flamethrower to these stupid bastards?

[r2cagle]

Wow, you have a busy job even with just consulting/brainstorming. My company has a great HR department which mostly deals with employee files and I think most of the same responsibilities you have. Plus, the company has an Ethics and Compliance department which I think is who does most of the instruction and enforcing of company rules and assist supervisors/managers with documentation on employees.

I've never had an issue with HR. Last interaction I had with them was a request for my updated ss card that had my married name (10 years after the fact). With access to personal information, I bet it must make it hard to talk with anyone outside of the department, if you have a bad day.

[seigus]

Technically, I'm not even supposed to talk to my wife about details! Fortunately, my job is heavily weighted on the training side.

[KellyHabersham]

*This may be a bit off-topic, but since it IS an HR-related problem, I just felt like sharing. *

To give a bit of background info - some months back, city employees were asked to fill out forms regarding proof of a valid driver's license/proper insurance....basically, a good driving record is going to start becoming a requirement for employment. The training specialist for the library department (I'll call her "Tracy") came around to the various branches to give a brief training on these new requirements, and staff were given forms to fill out.

Without going into detail, I'd gotten the impression that those of us who didn't drive/own a vehicle were exempt from even acknowledging these forms (and my direct supervisor was basically told the same thing), but apparently that's changed......I received an e-mail from "Tracy" this afternoon saying that she had my "proof of valid license" info, but needed the form for proof of valid insurance so records could be updated. And she apparently needs this non-existant info by the end of the month, so hopefully it won't be too much of a hassle getting things straightened out.

[mattm04]

The HR people at my work ar good, however as of the last time I called the phone tree has about 10 different people who have recorded on it. So you press 1 for HR with voice A, then press two for a specific issue and get voice B, etc. Very had to follow.

[wolfie]

Quoth KellyHabersham

To give a bit of background info - some months back, city employees were asked to fill out forms regarding proof of a valid driver's license/proper insurance....basically, a good driving record is going to start becoming a requirement for employment.

What about people with conditions (blindness, epilepsy, etc.) which don't affect their ability to do their job but which are disqualifying for a driver's license. Can you say "ADA" and "discrimination"? Also, people with a license but no insurance may simply not have a car. Is vehicle ownership going to become a condition of employment?

[KellyHabersham]

Quoth wolfie

What about people with conditions (blindness, epilepsy, etc.) which don't affect their ability to do their job but which are disqualifying for a driver's license. Can you say "ADA" and "discrimination"? Also, people with a license but no insurance may simply not have a car. Is vehicle ownership going to become a condition of employment?

Sorry if I might've given off that impression.....from what I've understood, it applies more towards those who work what the city has determined to be a "driving position", or if you're going to be doing any business-related driving.

[ta2ooed1]

I'm lucky 75% of my working life (17-3almost7) has been for very small companies, at most HR is 2 people and stuff like this comes up very rarely. At present the company I work for is only about 25 people and I like knowing everyone in the company personally