Is it true are many human resource managers bullies?

[noname223]

Does anyone on here has some stories to share?

Glenn Greenwald said something like many HR managers are perceived as bullies. He told an anecdote when this woman (HR manager) cheated with the CEO at a Coldplay concert. Many called her a hypocrite because HR managers fire people for way less.

I never worked for a long time. But I had a job interviews with HR managers and they grilled me. Lol. One in a very evil and humiliating way. My CV was way too good for most trainings. It is horrible now. My story was not really believable because it is obvious I am not made to be a low level office job. And I am a horrible liar, autistic and you notice I am neurodiverse. The job interviews were a hellhole and torture.
Someone still hired me and fired me soon afterwards. It was a disaster for me to that time but retrospectively I have to be thankful for that. It was a total nightmare. But my boss was cheeky when he did it.

Maybe the staff of the employment office will bully me one day. But I think with psychosis, bipolar, asperger I have good chances that they won't force me to work. Honestly, I would break down pretty early.

From what I have heard bullying at the workplace isn't that uncommon. At least I can dodge that (for a while?). Or I kill myself before they force to work a job.

 

[DarkRange55]

HR is there to protect the company. (I didn't say you)

 

[Dejected 55]

HR is there to protect the company. (I didn't say you)

You nailed it. Employees are encouraged to go to HR with problems... but HR is there to protect the company, not the employees... so you might be surprised at the outcome if you go to HR. Lots of times HR will help cover up transgressions of the "more valuable" employee for the "good of the company" and trample on rights of other employees along the way... because that's what they do.

 

[X-sanguinate86]

I am sure they are bad people. But as pointed out already, other than the fact that we're mislead into understanding HR's true role, it almost makes sense. Even more concerning I think, is that I know someone who was working in a legal environment specifically oriented to helping employees ensure their rights were being respected and enforced. That person's supervisor - so, a "rights" lawyer - bullied them and destroyed their career.

 

[Forever Sleep]

A colleague used to call HR 'Human Remains'. Lol. I haven't personally been on the end of cruelty from them but, they were always fairly abrubt, prickly people who seemed to enjoy the power. A bit like a (bad) teacher ordering people about and assuming their job made them superior. Which- it wouldn't, unless they were management.

I have absolutely seen borderline sociopathic behaviour from middle management though. People who seemed to enjoy disciplining or sacking others. They literally defrauded a charity once- to make their bottom line look good.

One of my jobs could involve working at height. Not great height always- one story up sometimes. Obviously though, companies are legally obliged to provide training and equipment. Our lovely Head of Safety guy was keen to point out I hadn't had this training so- shouldn't be expected to start clambering about at height. The manager apparently said- 'Well, if she falls, she won't fall far.' Nice to feel so valued.

 

[Pluto]

 

[ConfusedClouds]

I've not come across the bully side of HR in my many jobs. But definitely the incompetent, lazy side. Head in the sand. Which probably fits in more with the 'protect the company' narrative now you highlight it. Zero proactivity towards 'us' as employees, unless there was some sort of reason the business had need to 'look after' someone...

 

[StoneCellaiver]

They're the company's lawyers, they aren't the solution, they are the problem. I'm not sure how their attitude of being rude, dismissive, and gossip adjacent became so universal. It's strange, they're impersonal, really the perfect job for some who doesn't really care about making meaningful connections and instead preferential towards clubs or firing people at random.
Heard of a story where they kept files of a person being in distress in order to lay them off once someone higher up voiced their dislike towards the person in question. I have no clue about how they even help anyone in the company except for the higher ups, it's creating a toxic work culture, and for what purpose and to what end?

 

[itsgone2]

The company I worked for was so great even the HR people were amazing. Seriously. I worked with the one for about 10 years before he retired and he's one of the best people I've ever met. Everyone was nervous when hiring a replacement because you don't know what you're going to get, but this person is just as good. Seriously they fight for you all the time. Now we're being sold and transitioning and yes, HR is going to suck because now it's all about the bottom line and profits and the employees can go to hell basically. It's awful.