Everyone hates HR.
Okay, not everyone. We love ourselves – most of the time. But sometimes, we say things that make people hate us, and it’s our own darn fault.
Alan Collins, the author of The New HR Leader’s First 100 Days, wrote a post on LinkedIn where he identified three “killer” phrases that HR Leaders use. They are:
- “Please Copy Me on Everything…”
- “Look, It’s Company Policy, I Can’t…”
- “I Know I Promised This to You, But…”
I agree with Collins 100%. These phrases will destroy all confidence that people once had in HR. (And, in reality, every leader who uses these phrases.)
Collins suggests asking for updates rather than asking to be copied, explaining the reason behind the company policy (and supporting it even if you, personally, disagree), and never making promises you can’t keep. HR leaders can do much better if they adopt these ideas and eliminate these killer phrases.
They aren’t the only killer phrases, though. You probably have some in your vocabulary that are destroying confidence in your organization, and you don’t even realize it.
To read more killer phrases, click here: Killer phrases in HR: don’t use them, or you’ll erode trust
“explaining the reason behind the company policy (and supporting it even if you, personally, disagree)”
aaaaand that, folks, is why no one trusts HR. Not saying that HR personnel shouldn’t toe the company line (that’s their job) but I’ve never met an HR rep that has ever gone to bat for the employees.
We “go to bat” for employees all the time. That doesn’t mean leadership always agrees (or even that they should).
But policies are going to get enforced whether we agree with them or not – so undermining them or not being clear that employees need to follow those policies really isn’t doing them any favors.
Wait, you mean HR might have to act like normal human beings? No!