[Closed] Question about stress at work...

For me, the most depressing aspect of this case (and many like it) is the way in which the traditional role of HR (or personnel as it would once have been called) has been subverted by companies and organisations throughout both the private and public sectors.

The time was when HR/Personnel Dept staff acted as a vital conduit, bringing together workforce and management, ironed out difficulties and worked towards a common accord. When performed effectively this would result in harmony in the workplace and most likely enhanced performance generally.
In short, everyone won.

These days, experience has taught me that HR are little more than a tool of management. Some kind of quasi-secret police to be used against the rank and file by those in the upper echelons of management.

It's a piss poor state of affairs.

To the OP, glad that everything is on the up for you now.

The time was when HR/Personnel Dept staff acted as a vital conduit, bringing together workforce and management, ironed out difficulties and worked towards a common accord. When performed effectively this would result in harmony in the workplace and most likely enhanced performance generally.
In short, everyone won

Where did you work?

Well, that was the ideal.

My point centres more on the changing direction of HR. There's no intermediary function in the main, they're viewed (and used) by management as a weapon against the workforce. Subsequently, staff are less inclined than ever to go through the official channels as they will very often have little confidence in their HR wing. Indeed, they may well have grounds to fear that it will damage their career to do so.

The time was when HR/Personnel Dept staff acted as a vital conduit, bringing together workforce and management, ironed out difficulties and worked towards a common accord. When performed effectively this would result in harmony in the workplace and most likely enhanced performance generally.
In short, everyone won.

I put in a sick note for work related stress, the only contact I had from my HR dept was a letter 3 weeks later telling me that as I have not contacted them pro-actively my pay will be suspended and I will be disciplined. Thats the only contact my former employers made with me... I know they got my sick note as I got the automated emails telling me that I was marked off sick.

So, so, so glad to be out. So glad.

Also kinda looking forward to this meeting on tuesday. Should be fun, as I can say what I feel as I dont need to go back.

I've learnt to print off hard copies of every single email to and from HR.

Our lot seem to have a knack of getting the IT guys to make 'inconvenient' emails disappear.

It's like 1984!

dmiller - Member

Just to thank everyone again. Quit my job this week, I have sorted a job with a large retailer as a salesman (only about £2k wage drop before bonus, should be the same with bonus) and I am starting to feel like a new man.

Well done. For health sake some companies are really not worth working for especially if they have some mean people/tossers as team leaders, even a low paid job might be far better without inducing negative stress.

Interesting enough after my resignation letter I have been invited to attend a formal grievance meeting to discuss it... Also they have banned all swearing in the work place two days after I hand in my notice.

Keep cool when attending the meeting and depending on your views you can either:

1) Not to tell them your reasons for leaving or simply tell them you want to move on that's all. i.e. do not point fingers at anyone as some might not take it kindly and have families of their own too, so in a way they just have to learn it the hard way and if they wake up they will change if not they will drown slowly. They are in charge of their own destiny now.

2) Tell them everything that is wrong but watch out they might think that it's all your fault and you make no sense at all. To be frank if they cannot see you suffering while there then whatever you are going to say will only be used for filing purposes only. i.e. the HR wants to cover their own back and filing in paper works mean they are following "HR practice". You know all those shite about exit interviews and stuff.

But whatever you do you MUST NOT take it seriously. Saying some like ... "It's not you but it's me" like in the movies. Take it as a joke and have some fun to de-stress yourself during the session and talk some bull craps whatever with plenty of positive spins on it. They love positive spin so give them that as they want to know how good they are.

Anyways - I am now free from them.

But watch out for the next one as they are always plenty of tossers lurking ...

🙂

Glad you got it all sorted out eventually. Sounds like a horrible place to work so I'm sure you'll be loads happier now 😀