Things you want to say to employees but can't because you're professional...

I would love a pound for everytime I've heard of someone saying "I'll take this to HR"

HR doesn't exist to represent you, it exists to represent the Company!

(Professional or otherwise, I've actually said it on many occasions)

"Personally I think everything you say is right but my job (which on balance I'd like to keep) is where necessary to try to defend the indefensible and therefore I'm going to try my best to dispute it with you."
"I just hope you are perceptive enough to understand this and don't despise me personally for what I'm going to do."

Not quite, David.

I'm not sure I've ever been guilty of defending the indefensible. My point is the misconception that employees see HR as their advocate in defending them against the Company - even if the actions taken by the Company are fair, equitable, and lawful.

Sorry, Robert, I was responding more to the general question rather than your specific point.

But if you've never had to try and defend that which was indefensible, think you've been very blessed!

Yes, David. This. So much this.

Them, in a performance review meeting: "I've made an improvement, but I know I'm still 40% behind target of everyone else. But I made a good improvement, I don't understand why I'm on a PIP?! I'm doing good"

In my head: "Because you a FORTY PERCENT behind average for your team, how can you not see that?! Stop chatting and do your job! Geez"

What I actually said "You've made a really good start and shown us that you can do your job, but you just need to push a bit more so you can get in line with the average of your team, the targets are there to help you get to that"

In a performance improvement meeting, where an employee has got his third "Development Needed" rating in a row on a leadership development programme, yet thinks he is misunderstood and his manager's have been unjustified in their ratings.

What I wanted to say "This is the third manager in a row to raise concerns about your ability to work with others and your failure to meet the objectives they've set for you. Do you not think you might actually be the problem here, not them?! Wake up and leave, already! "

What I actually said.. "I understand you feel a bit upset about this, but I think you do need to take responsibility and look forward at how you are going to meet the requirements of your performance improvement plan. You have three months to turn this around, or we will be seriously considering whether your future remains on the scheme."

Lesley

Apart from perhaps 'Wake up and leave, already!' I see nothing materially wrong with what you wanted to say.

yeah, true. I think I did say much of what was in my wanted list too. It was probably the tone of how I wanted to say it that was not so professional. Trying to resist the urge to shake the chap!!

I love this thread!

Too many to choose from but..

Employee: "I think it's disappointing that the company expects us to stay 15 minutes later than our finish time."

What I wanted to say: "Sorry you're disappointed that we've tried to do something nice and offer a FREE, VOLUNTARY massage during work time and you feel that making back 15 minutes is unreasonable if you were to have one. Feel free to ignore any future benefits and now that we think about it, you're actually in a deficit from all of the personal development sessions that we've invested in. How would you like to make back that time?"

A Senior Manager got there before me and said words to that effect (much more diplomatically of course).