She called me from HR Hell

Almost twenty years ago I worked for a Fortune 100 company and flew up the ladder. One of my stops along the way was HR. I was promoted out of HR after six months back to sales and marketing and ran fifteen operating companies. What does it say about HR when people fear their own HR executives and department?

The following is feedback from people who worked with one of my clients. The Chief Global HR executive was nefarious:

"HR gets nothing done."

"He is such a manipulator."

"They never return emails or phone calls."

"Why can't they find talent?

"Do they not know how to do leadership and management development?"

He was one of those people you knew checked everyone's email, for no other reason than he believed everyone was bad, almost convinced they were cheating or stealing.

Now you have to ask yourself why he would rule the organization with such negative energy? Why?

Recently a University Professor called because she had an issue with HR. She's waited for over a month for HR to call her back. She's in HR hell.

A few years ago a client asked me to address some diversity issues. I quickly made some phone calls. I had interviewed a gentleman who's wife was a Finance Professor at Howard which gave me quick access to finance students. Temple was taking longer because I didn't know anybody. Less than two weeks later, I was at Howard interviewing six soon-to-be-graduates.

A week later the student candidates were interviewed in Manhattan at my client's headquarters. Temple got back to me and arrangements were underway. The process took about four-five weeks. The Vice Chairman of the firm called and wanted a progress report. His HR department would take over Temple since I had other bigger diversity issues to deal with.

Three weeks later, the firm hired one of the Howard students. Temple called and asked what was going on. No one from HR had called them yet. I called HR to follow-up. Would someone be in touch? Sure.

A week later, the young man that was hired called and asked about relocation expenses. I didn't know so I called HR and left a message. About an hour later Temple called. She still hadn't heard from the HR department. About an hour later, my client calls a tad freaked. HR blasted him because they didn't know...

The HR executive could take twenty minutes to rant about a territorial issue, but he still couldn't pick up the phone and call Temple University.

Everything starts at the top and runs down hill. Who's at the top of your HR organization? Someone who lives in scarcity on his 2X4 or someone who seeks contributions from all constituents, is generous, respects everyone, and has great personal integrity?

What are you doing to change HR hell?

Thank you for being here. I am thrilled that you take time out of your schedule to come by.

Copyright 2007 Ev Nucci

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ev nucci

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