HR exists for one reason and one reason only, to protect the company from law suits. I have experience in this area and HR pretends to have concern for the work force when they are really only trying to gain insight into your intentions and gauge your next move. Take whatever is given but do not trust HR regardless of how sympathetic they seem.
12 replies (most recent on top)
@5aen, what do you mean by that?
Why tf are my posts going to the wrong message board :(
I can't speak for most areas, but HR didn't have anything to do with the layoffs at sams HO. Deloitte was hired to "help simplify our jobs" a few months ago. And that's who was there walking people out and watching them pack their boxes today. What really effing blows is that I was part of the super important "focus group" of associates they set up interviews with and got information from. They made it sound like it was a privledge. HA. It kills me to know that I basically helped eliminate my own job by providing them with information. I should've seen this coming.
Ok, then why does HR approach the workers with a nasty unconcerned attitude. Come in unprepared not knowing what they have done. They come at the workers as though its a done deal. Then at the end of the meeting, ask you why didnt you tell them something they should had know. Are you serious? So where is the remorse, behind closed doors. Should be after they have brow beat the hell out of the worker with intimadation, bullying, and retailiation.
I worked with HR long enough to know that they protect the company, not the associates. Sorry the HR people are upset with the layoff's. They are the hangmen, but the HR directors and VP's also have a heavy say in who gets it and who doesn't. They protect WMT from lawsuits from past employees. They fight everything tooth and nail, even with unemployment. They have access to everyone's files. Do not go to HR for advice or concerns, it will be documented and used against you later.
I have never worked at a company where HR has been worth a damn. I have first-hand experience at a previous company when my manager wrote up lie after lie on my annual evaluation. All HR would do is allow a rebuttal. No investigation. No interviews. Just a 'that is the way it is' attitude. (My leaving that job brought me to WM.) They protect the company as they listen to the employee and pretend to be their friend and have their best interests in mind. They follow the orders of leadership.
They are there to protect the company. Period.
With RIFs, they are not the judge or the jury. They are the executioner. They have to be. It is their job. If they don't like doing that part of their job, then maybe they need to find another career.
You can take your chip comment and shove it if you were talking to me. HR keeps going up on the chopping block too and my spouse has been displaced from an HR position previously. No one on this team is taking any pleasure in what they are having to do. Some of the people my spouse had to process paperwork for are people we've known a long time because I was in ISD for years and on top of having to do these things my spouse and others in the position of having to execute these decisions can't even vent at home like most of us can on a bad day because of privacy and confidentiality.
HR are not the decision makers in this process. Their position is to make sure a fair and consistent selection process is used and are a resource to have conversations. I've seen HR managers "fight" for associates, but the ultimate decision maker is the business. HR does not have the authority that many assume.
I gnawed the chip out myself.
As for the HR personnel, I'm sure they feel remorse. I'm talking about corporate HR as an organization. I have had many jobs with many companies but the mission of HR is the same for all of them. At the end of the day, you do what you have to do to keep your job, regardless of how distasteful it may be. That is why I left Walmart and why I have left other companies before because I couldn't continue working for them and still look at myself in the mirror.
Did you get your RFID chip removed? Hope so or they tracking you.
This is NOT entirely true. My spouse works in HR at DGTC and is heartbroken right now having to process these actions. These are people, even friends, that are getting displaced.
I left Walmart almost a year ago for a better opportunity. I am happier and more content than I have been in years. I worked for Walmart for less than 10 years and NEVER felt safe in my role. After the euphoria of the initial on-boarding and indoctrination (tattoo, chip implant, etc.) wore off, the reality set in. Walmart is not unique. Any company that is trying to make a profit looks upon the people as just another resource. If you do not continually think that way, you need to wake up and protect yourself. There is only one person looking our for you and that is YOU!