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Should HR be allowed an opinion...!?

Emma

Hi All,

As a bit of background, I've been working in HR for over 10 years.  My current role is stand alone, with responsibility for c.50 employee in UK.  This my first "manager" position, also my first time working with Americans - We have an American parent company.  My manager, and all of the C level are American and based in USA.

I'm really struggling with this role (been here 2 years) as I feel like I'm constantly battling the US senior team on UK employment laws.  To be fair my boss is great, and he gets it - but I feel like the rest of the US team don't take me seriously.  I have a good relationships with the UK managers - but ultimately they are not allowed to make their own decisions.  Also, feedback I have had recently via my boss is that the US c level believe I'm too much "team employee" rather than "team company".

UK managers aren't allowed to make their own decisions, we often have performance and disciplinary processes enforced on us by the US.  I do try to outline the risks of certain actions objectively on a case by case basis, but ultimately I if I'm honest disagree with 70% of the decisions.  Am I supposed to just keep quiet, or should I be challenging more?

I enjoy my role here - and don't want to quit (I would feel like I've surrendered!).  I guess what I'm looking for in this post is an answer to the question - am I just being naïve and is HR solely supposed to be team company - no questions asked...…….?

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  • No I don't think so at all Emma, personally I think that's a bit old fashioned and in my experience it is possible to balance the two - employees who are looked after and treated fairly are bound to have less ER issues which benefits the business.

    Ultimately employment law and 'best practice' is fair so a HR person promoting that is by default team company as well as team employee IMO.

    I have experience of working with a company like yours with an overseas office throwing their weight around when it comes to UK law/best practice and not understanding that its not "team employee" its "team doing the right thing legally and morally". After 3 years I left after several issues that never would have happened before they started sticking their beaks in, because I didn't want my name to be associated with a Glassdoor employer review nightmare waiting to happen (which it has in the last 2 years, shame as it was a great company before they waded in).
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  • No I don't think so at all Emma, personally I think that's a bit old fashioned and in my experience it is possible to balance the two - employees who are looked after and treated fairly are bound to have less ER issues which benefits the business.

    Ultimately employment law and 'best practice' is fair so a HR person promoting that is by default team company as well as team employee IMO.

    I have experience of working with a company like yours with an overseas office throwing their weight around when it comes to UK law/best practice and not understanding that its not "team employee" its "team doing the right thing legally and morally". After 3 years I left after several issues that never would have happened before they started sticking their beaks in, because I didn't want my name to be associated with a Glassdoor employer review nightmare waiting to happen (which it has in the last 2 years, shame as it was a great company before they waded in).
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