tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post6578982096639313614..comments2023-09-29T06:09:21.089-04:00Comments on Ask a Manager: when I talk to HR, don't they have to keep it confidential?Ask a Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05281942480230532899noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-51063979876054930932010-08-04T02:26:43.259-04:002010-08-04T02:26:43.259-04:00Charles, You're expecting someone who's al...Charles, You're expecting someone who's already exhibited unprofessional behavior to keep confidences in situations where an underlying loyalty conflict already exists. <br /><br />Although you can hope for privacy, it's not a very realistic expectation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-54586834054469931452010-08-03T15:34:41.301-04:002010-08-03T15:34:41.301-04:00Charles, I think the point of this blog post is th...Charles, I think the point of this blog post is that it's not actually something you should expect. Hope for, maybe, ask for, sure, but expect? No. That's not a judgment on what HR should or shouldn't do--it's a statement about appropriate employee expectations.fpostehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04585253003390376993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-57936599402693993872010-08-03T12:30:05.590-04:002010-08-03T12:30:05.590-04:00SHRM Code of Ethics:
http://www.shrm.org/about/Pa...SHRM Code of Ethics:<br /><br />http://www.shrm.org/about/Pages/code-of-ethics.aspxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-46067572790558963242010-08-03T10:08:35.972-04:002010-08-03T10:08:35.972-04:00Anon at 1:46;
All very good points. But I would e...Anon at 1:46;<br /><br />All very good points. But I would expect, <b>especially since HR says so</b>, that they NOT talk to my current supevisor until the hiring manager is ready to move forward.<br /><br />Even without an agreement of confidentiality I would not expect them to approach a current supervisor with the words <i>"what's wrong with . . "</i> simply because someone has expressed an interest in another internal position.<br /><br />Perhaps my comment was a bit off-topic in expressing my frustration with <i>unprofessional</i>. behaviour on the part of some HR folks. I certainly don't mean that HR has to or should not mention anything until I am hired for the new position. But I do believe (again, especially when it is said) that HR should not mention anything to the current supervisor until the hiring manager is ready to move forward.<br /><br />There is no harm done to the company if nothing is said and it turns out that an employee is missing key qualifications for the new job; However, there can be harm done to the employee (and, as a result to employee moral and ultimately to the company) if HR mentions something to the current supervisor and the employee is not even considered for the new position. Some managers do not take kindly to "their" staff looking for work elsewhere, even if that elsewhere is just down the hall.<br /><br />Sorry, to harp on this issue. But as I have said, twice I was burnt by HR on this. I think that you and I are possibly operating from two different viewpoints: You are looking at the situation with a <i>professional</i> manager's attitude. I am looking at the situation in which I had <i>unprofessional</i> managers who treated me (and others who looked elsewhere for work) as if we were "traitors." In both cases, my experience was that HR said (or as written in the job postings) that all applications were confidential. They did NOT keep my applications confidential. <br /><br />All the points that you make, while true, are not a situation where someone is in danger or the company would be liable if HR didn't mention something to the current manager. What is wrong with HR holding off until it becomes clear that someone might be moving forward?Charleshttp://home.earthlink.net/~nooriginalthought/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-5769923214796870622010-08-03T01:46:35.274-04:002010-08-03T01:46:35.274-04:00Charles,
Honestly, I'm amazed that someone wo...Charles, <br />Honestly, I'm amazed that someone would expect confidentiality in an internal hiring situation. This is just my jaded hiring manager pov, but internal is more complicated with more people involved. Along with the rush of promoting someone you also have a lot of cleanup filling jobs created by the domino effect of 1 well placed promotion. <br /><br />HR has to make sure the employee is eligible to move, which means they have to talk to your boss, and while they're at it, they would also determine critical job functions and begin to make plans for another job opening. <br /><br />As much as I would like to say that I'm okay with conversations about so & so moving on.. I'm not okay with managers holding someone back because of alleged business need. Call it selfish or whatever, if a good employee wants to move on, they'll find a way. I much prefer they find their way internally so we don't lose knowledge and valuable, tenured employees. <br /><br />Just my 2 cents...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-45724389127065642112010-08-02T13:48:45.098-04:002010-08-02T13:48:45.098-04:00There is at least ONE issue in which I think HR sh...There is at least ONE issue in which I think HR should keep confidentiality; especially since they often say they will. <br /><br />When one applies for another job within the organization.<br /><br />While the hiring manager does have the right to ask my current supervisor about me HR does not/should not talk to my CURRENT supervisor about my application for another position.<br /><br />Twice I have been burnt by HR NOT keeping my application confidential when they said that they would. In the one case I actually overheard them talking to my supervisor by asking if there was anything "wrong" with me as I had asked to apply for another position in a different department<br /><br />I now know that if I am ever in that situation again I will go directly to the manager hiring and by pass HR all together. I know I will still have to eventually go through HR; But, at least, I can get a feel for the position by talking directly to the source before HR burns me.<br /><br />So, yes, HR is there to serve the company's needs. But, I think there are some cases where confidentiality is expected.Charleshttp://home.earthlink.net/~nooriginalthought/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-44586362986776869372010-08-02T11:02:30.129-04:002010-08-02T11:02:30.129-04:00HR's function is to protect the employer and a...HR's function is to protect the employer and a key part of their role is sharing information to gauge company climate. <br /><br />The infamous "I'm going to HR" is on equal footing with "I'm telling mom". HR is looking out for the company and ime Mom wants quiet. Disruptions are usually handled in kind, without any favor thrown toward the tattler or messenger. <br /><br />Is this fair? Not really. There are many situations that would benefit from an objective opinion or interference. Employees that expect justice or even things to go their way, are concerned more about themselves than the company. HR is there to protect the best interests of the company, not necessarily the employee.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-24034658072667624342010-08-01T18:16:25.108-04:002010-08-01T18:16:25.108-04:00Well of course there ARE confidentiality statues a...Well of course there ARE confidentiality statues about certain matters. Just not about the matters OP writes about. HR is required to keep confidential any information they may have about a worker's sexual orientation, health records, income, etc. <br /><br />But AAM is correct, too often workers assume HR is there to be an office counselor, and that's not their job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5558939360732260529.post-6809196574411359682010-08-01T11:33:50.277-04:002010-08-01T11:33:50.277-04:00Yepp, HR are there to serve the interest of the em...Yepp, HR are there to serve the interest of the employer. And so is EVERYONE ELSE in the company. People seem to forget the little fact that they are employed to do a job, its not that they are doing the company a favour. That applies to HR and to everyone else.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00104583506139303024noreply@blogger.com