“When people are financially invested they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute”
Simon Simek
HR isn’t ‘your friend’ but is neither your foe. “Transparency and flexibility can allow HR to effectively wear the “dual hat” of communicator and company arm”, one expert told HR Dive. HRs are essentially human. HR personnel are certain to come across a few personal details that employees might not discuss with their co-workers otherwise through their role in the workplace. As human beings, it is very difficult to avoid developing a deeper personal relationship with employees who open out to you. However, it is critical to understand the distinctions that exist between HR and any other sort of employee friendship.
Relationship with HR
The truth about HR is that most of the interactions at workplace with HR will revolve around employee specific events: hiring, reviews, promotions, salary actions, or firings. HR is “meant to help the company achieve what it needs to while still being fair for its employees,” Caroline Walsh, a VP in Gartner’s HR practice, told HR Dive. “It’s not there to be an employee’s friend” but times have changed and so has company philosophy regarding HR management, Walsh added. While the HR department still may not be the best place to vent about your problems, it is increasingly a department that serves as the go-between for employee needs and employer action.
If HR is friends with an employee, every decision they make around that individual will be tainted, no matter how fair they are, or how thoroughly they have documented the reasons behind their actions. The bias that HR personnel generally tends to avoid will always come into the picture for the people they are connected with.
Everyone wants to be their best at work, especially HR professionals. And people will argue that they should also build workplace friendships as everyone, but that as stated, it isn’t always simple for HR professionals. There are both pros and cons in doing so and to maintain a balance is of utmost importance for HR. HR specialists bear a significant amount of responsibility for their co-workers as well as their company.
Ultimately, transparency is the key to trust, Walsh said. If HR is transparent about what it can and can’t do, employees will trust HR “even if they don’t like a policy,” she noted. Such transparency is especially important regarding issues of worker safety, data protections and contentious political events.
Benefits of being friends with HR
Since an HR is responsible for creating a conducive environment for employees at the workplace, it is important for them to know of anything going wrong within the organization and being friends with employees will only make them open up to the HR department easily.
- The HR department can work better by knowing of any unwanted situation well in advance through their acquaintances among the employees.
- In large corporations, employees undergo a lot of work stress and pressure needs a shoulder to vent upon. In such situations, being friends with HR will help in addressing their issues.
- As HR is the one responsible for creating a friendly environment at the workplace, in case of any conflicts, HR is the one who will solves it.
- While communicating any important managerial decision, HR can become influential.
Set Limits
Even while being friends, a certain level of professionalism must be maintained. Excessive friendliness can become counterproductive.
- Avoid being emotionally involved in a relationship as this can blur the lines between work and friendship.
- An HR’s decision should not be influenced. HR cannot be biased towards a person whom he already knows.
- An HR is a part of various confidential discussions. HR should not reveal any critical information to anyone.
- Avoid getting involved in gossip as HR should be the one who sets an example of employee behavior.
Conclusion
While it is obvious that boundaries must be maintained, it is equally critical that HR is human. It is critical that HR is empowered in their job while also being approachable to employees, they remain friendly and maintain a level of professionalism at the same time. No one should feel neglected.