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Should HR be the organisational 'police'?

Jody

Hi all,

I have always understood that in HR we're not here to 'police' adherence to policy and what managers can and can't do. Instead we are there to advise on best practice, organisational policy and employment law - and it is for senior managers to then make final decision on the actions that are needed.

Sometimes HR can get the blame for things going wrong in an organisation, when staff member's ask 'why didn't HR do something'? When in fact, the HR team may have strongly advised against something happening but does not have final authority and the manager does it anyway.

What are your views? In what contexts should HR be the organisational 'police' (if at all), and when should we be advising and then leaving it to the manager to make their final decision?

Thanks,

Jody

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  • Hi Jody

    HR does have a checking function (right to work checks, would be an example). We don't just issue policies but have a role in feeding back to line management when they are not followed. How we do this depends on whether the off piste activity is a legal matter or simply not in accordance with how an organisation has decided some internal matter will be handled.

    IMO, however, whenever you hear someone saying "where was HR?" after a scandal has hit the headlines, it becomes clear that they have a fundamental misunderstanding of what HR is and does. Managers manage. HR bods don't usually have the authority to stride in and tell people what to do. As you say, HR may have been very vocal in opposition to a course of action and done everything possible to raise the issue within the organisation, but that doesn't make such a good story.
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  • Hi Jody

    HR does have a checking function (right to work checks, would be an example). We don't just issue policies but have a role in feeding back to line management when they are not followed. How we do this depends on whether the off piste activity is a legal matter or simply not in accordance with how an organisation has decided some internal matter will be handled.

    IMO, however, whenever you hear someone saying "where was HR?" after a scandal has hit the headlines, it becomes clear that they have a fundamental misunderstanding of what HR is and does. Managers manage. HR bods don't usually have the authority to stride in and tell people what to do. As you say, HR may have been very vocal in opposition to a course of action and done everything possible to raise the issue within the organisation, but that doesn't make such a good story.
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